Italian ‘stalker’ claims year-long affair with Colin Firth’s wife

THE lover of Colin Firth’s wife says the actor had “no idea” about their year-long affair and refutes accusations from the reunited couple that he is a stalker.

A MAN accused of stalking British actor Colin Firth’s wife has told The Sun that they shared a passionate year-long affair which saw them romp all over the world.

Livia Giuggioli, 48, has admitted to a fling with journalist Marco Brancaccia while temporarily separated from The King’s Speech screen star Firth.

According to The Sun, she and the actor have now reported the 55-year-old to police, ac­c­using him of stalking her and sending terrifying messages plus an email with a compromising photo of her.

However, Mr Brancaccia, who works for Italy’s national news agency ANSA in Brazil, insists he wasn’t a stalker and that their affair lasted nearly 12 months.

He said: “We met at a party at Colin and Livia’s house in Italy. I had known her for years and one thing led to another. We started an affair that lasted just under a year.

Colin Firth's wife, Livia, had a fling with Marco Brancaccia. Picture; Supplied

Colin Firth and wife Livia Giuggioli have united against Brancaccia. Picture: Getty

“She’d tell Colin she was on business trips and we’d meet all over the world. We met in New York, Brazil, Iceland, Italy and even London, where they live.

“I’d say we were very much in love. Sometimes when we were together she would get a call from Colin. I’m the one being called a stalker when I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.’’

Mr Brancaccia has been accused of waging an eight-month stalking campaign against the Firths — who have two sons — between September 2016 and May last year.

In an official complaint to Rome police, Livia said he had plagued the family with calls and emailed the compromising picture of her to 57-year-old Oscar-winner Firth, who also starred in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually.

Colin Firth and his wife at the UK premiere of the film “Love Actually”. Picture: AFP

But Mr Brancaccia denies the allegations. “I’m accused of making hundreds of calls to them. I sent two WhatsApp messages and an email to Colin, which I do regret now.

“Now I am being made out to be a crazy stalker. I am the one who is being made out to be mad when I have done nothing wrong.

“I have hundreds of messages and pictures of us together, I even kept a diary. We were lovers.

“Colin had no idea. The police have taken my phone and computer, but they will see there are not hundreds of calls or messages to her at all.”

“I wrote an email to Colin and I attached some pictures of Livia to prove what I was saying was true.

“I do now regret sending that to Colin, but I wanted him to know the truth and — to be honest — he has been very understanding.

“I think they went to the police because they were scared I would reveal details in the media. If it does go to court then Colin and Livia will have to give evidence. People will see I am not a mad stalker.”

Colin Firth and wife Livia Giuggioli have reconciled and united against her former lover, Marco Brancaccia, who they have accused of stalking. Picture: AP

Details of the police stalking probe first appeared in Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Mr Brancaccia is accused of threatening to write compromising articles about Livia and Firth before emailing photos to the actor, prompting him to alert Italian prosecutors.

In the complaint, Livia said she was living in terror and thought Mr Brancaccia might be following her, the newspaper said.

A spokesman for Italy’s Carabinieri police said: “A complaint has been made by the couple to prosecutors and police have been investigating.”

Sources for The Sun said Firth had confronted his wife about her alleged affair after he received an email which detailed the affair.

Colin Firth and his wife Livia about a year after the alleged affair. Picture: AFP

A friend of the actor was reported as saying: “He described intimate meetings that would devastate any husband. He did so with the misguided and hopeless belief he could destabilise the efforts being made by Colin and Livia to sort things out.

“Colin presented this to his wife and in what must have been a very difficult confrontation.

“But he has maintained his dignity throughout.”

A spokesman for the couple said: “A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate.

During that time Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited.

Colin Firth and his wife Livia Giuggioli are said to have reconciled. Picture: AP Photo/Matt Sayles

The Firths appeared together on the red carpet numerous times during the period they said they were separated.

They posed for the cameras at the Baftas in February 2016 and other red carpet engagements.

The couple have been married for more than 20 years.

In 2011 Firth said he would never cheat on Livia with any film co-stars.

He said on Piers Morgan’s show: “It does help to realise that, however stunning the person who is fluttering eyelashes at you, she doesn’t do anything to match up to your wife.

“To me she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.”

This story first appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.