EXCLUSIVE: 'Things ARE OK between us': Dominic West's wife Catherine FitzGerald breaks her silence to insist her marriage is 'fine' after the Lily James scandal

  • Catherine, 49, broke her silence to assure MailOnline that her marriage is 'fine', as friends confirmed she was determined to make her marriage work
  • This is the first time she has spoke out since the actor was photographed kissing and cuddling Lily James in Rome last month 
  • Catherine told a reporter: 'We're fine, thank you very much, yes we are. Things are OK between us. We don't need any advice from anyone, thank you.'
  • It comes following reports that Catherine was planning to leave her husband and their marriage was 'as good as over' following the cosy snaps 
  • Sources close to the couple say they are now determined to save their marriage and are 'working through their problems'
  • It comes after Catherine's mother paid tribute to her 'darling' actor son-in-law in a gushing tribute on social media 

Dominic West's wife Catherine FitzGerald has spoke out for the first time since the actor was photographed kissing and cuddling Lily James in Rome last month.

Catherine, 49, broke her silence to assure MailOnline that her marriage is 'fine', as friends confirmed she was determined to make her marriage work and avoid a divorce.

She told a reporter: 'We're fine, thank you very much, yes we are.

'We're fine!': Dominic West's wife Catherine FitzGerald has spoke out for the first time since the actor was photographed kissing and cuddling Lily James in Rome last month (pictured in October)

'We're fine!': Dominic West's wife Catherine FitzGerald has spoke out for the first time since the actor was photographed kissing and cuddling Lily James in Rome last month (pictured in October) 

'Things are OK between us. We don't need any advice from anyone, thank you.'

Her confident tone was a far cry from her humiliation last month when photos emerged of her 51-year-old husband canoodling with young actress Lily, 31, without his wedding ring during a romantic break in Rome.

In the days following the scandal, mother-of-four Catherine stood by silently during a bizarre show of unity with the star outside their Cotswolds home, as West insisted: 'Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together.'

Despite her aristocratic stiff upper lip, she came under pressure from friends to end her ten-year marriage to the man with whom she has four young children, with some saying she had grown tired of being an actor's wife 'and everything that entails'.

Breaking her silence: Catherine, 49, broke her silence to assure MailOnline that her marriage is 'fine', as friends confirmed she was determined to make her marriage work and avoid a divorce (Dominic and Lily pictured in Rome last month)

Breaking her silence: Catherine, 49, broke her silence to assure MailOnline that her marriage is 'fine', as friends confirmed she was determined to make her marriage work and avoid a divorce (Dominic and Lily pictured in Rome last month)

But now sources close to the couple say they are determined to save their marriage and are 'working through their problems', confident that their relationship will survive.

A close friend of Catherine's revealed: 'Yes, Catherine was devastated and humiliated by the pictures of Dom with Lily. And it's well documented and clear what his views on infidelity are. 

'It may surprise a lot of people but that doesn't mean their marriage is close to ending. They have had some difficult discussions but are still very much together. 

'They've got a lovely family and she wants to do everything she can to keep it together.'

The couple brushed off rumours of marriage troubles on Tuesday as they were seen together for the first time in weeks and went for a jog in the idyllic Wiltshire village in which they live.

Hitting back: Catherine told a reporter: 'We're fine, thank you very much, yes we are. Things are OK between us. We don't need any advice from anyone, thank you.' (pictured in 2018)

Hitting back: She told a reporter: 'We're fine, thank you very much, yes we are. Things are OK between us. We don't need any advice from anyone, thank you.' (pictured in 2018) 

Neighbours revealed landscape gardener Catherine returned to the couple's home last week after being holed up at her ancestral home of Glin Castle in County Limerick, Ireland, contemplating the future of her marriage.

Another friend said: 'Even if she wanted to, it's not that easy for Catherine to walk away from the marriage because she's locked into it in many ways.

'They've got four young children and Dominic is also the main breadwinner. And there's also the considerable financial investment in Glin Castle to consider.'

Catherine and West took over the running of the castle two years ago and transformed it into an exclusive boutique getaway for A-listers.

Friends maintain that she is determined to make a success of it as a business with West believed to have provided the bulk of the funding.

Claims: It comes following reports that Catherine was planning to leave her husband and their marriage was 'as good as over' following the cosy snaps (pictured in 2015)

Claims: It comes following reports that Catherine was planning to leave her husband and their marriage was 'as good as over' following the cosy snaps (pictured in 2015) 

A friend also told MailOnline that she had spoken with Catherine since her return from Ireland, and she confided that she also wanted her marriage to survive because she does not want to go through a second divorce.

Catherine married Edward Lambton in 1995, becoming Viscountess Lambton for a time, until their divorce in 2002.

The friend added: 'The divorce left some deep emotional scars on Catherine and she doesn't want to go through another painful break up. The experience left her feeling very crushed and it took a long time for her to get over it.

'She wants to avoid another divorce at all costs.'

With rumours circulating over the past few days that West and Catherine's 10-year marriage was close to an end, one friend said: 'They both find all the speculation quite entertaining because it's so far from the truth.

Tribute: Earlier, Catherine's mother Olda paid tribute to her 'darling' actor son-in-law Dominic - as friends revealed they are confident his marriage will survive the Lily James scandal (Olda pictured with late husband Desmond before his death in 2011)

Tribute: Earlier, Catherine's mother Olda paid tribute to her 'darling' actor son-in-law Dominic - as friends revealed they are confident his marriage will survive the Lily James scandal (Olda pictured with late husband Desmond before his death in 2011) 

'They've had a lot of problems recently but they're still strong and together.'

Earlier, Catherine's mother paid tribute to her 'darling' actor son-in-law - as friends revealed they are confident his marriage will survive the Lily James scandal.

Olda Fitzgerald posted a gushing comment on a photo of her son-in-law with her daughter Catherine, saying: 'My eldest daughter and my darling son-in-law who both work so hard to keep me in clover! How lucky am I?' 

She added: 'Hooray darlings congrats on sweet photo.'

The picture, posted by Glin Castle, shows the pair standing in an elegant room with West, dressed in a red flannel shirt and gilet, smiling at Catherine, dressed in a pretty floral blouse, as she too smiles while looking into the distance.

'Darling': Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the mother of Dominic's wife Catherine FitzGerald, called him 'darling' as she commented on how 'lucky' she was on a picture of the couple posted to Glin Castle's Instagram account

'Darling': Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the mother of Dominic's wife Catherine FitzGerald, called him 'darling' as she commented on how 'lucky' she was on a picture of the couple posted to Glin Castle's Instagram account

Olda is the widow of the 29th and last Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, who passed away aged 74 in 2011 

The eldest of three daughters of Desmond Fitzgerald, the 29th and last so-called 'Black Knight of the Glin', Catherine was brought up at magnificent Glin Castle.

Her father, whose title dated back to feudal times was not formally addressed as 'Sir'. Instead, he insisted on being addressed as 'Knight', though a few trusted friends were allowed to call him by his nickname 'Knighty'.

After Catherine's father died in 2011, leaving the house and grounds to her and her sisters Nesta and Honor and their mother, Olda, they initially decided to put it up for auction.

But more recently, Dominic and Catherine decided to take on the daunting task of renovating and opening up the castle with its 18 opulent bedrooms as a venue with accommodation, to try and meet the £150,000-a-year running costs. 

Historic: Catherine and West spend holidays at Glin Castle (pictured centre) where they run the historic castle that's been in her family as an events venue to cover the £150,000-a-year running costs

Historic: Catherine and West spend holidays at Glin Castle (pictured centre) where they run the historic castle that's been in her family as an events venue to cover the £150,000-a-year running costs 

West and Catherine married in June 2010 after reuniting following their university romance and have four children together; Dora, 13, Senan, 12, Francis, 11, and Christabel, seven.

West also has another daughter Martha, 21, with former girlfriend, aristocrat, Polly Astor. 

Dominic and wife Catherine have been putting on a united front after pictures of him canoodling with actress Lily James, 31, while on holiday in Rome emerged last month. 

The couple posed for defiant snaps together outside their home in October and handed out notes to reporters insisting they were together. 

It comes following reports that Catherine, 49, was planning to leave her husband and their marriage was 'as good as over' following the cosy snaps.  

Friends of Catherine said she is set to walk away from their 10-year marriage, after seeing pictures of him on a romantic weekend with Lily. 

Neighbours revealed landscape gardener Catherine returned to the couple's home last week after being holed up at her ancestral home of Glin Castle in County Limerick, Ireland.

A resident of the village where the couple live with their four children told MailOnline: 'We've seen him out running and walking the dog. Catherine has been back for about five days and she's been spotted but we've not seen the two of them together.

'There are a lot of rumours doing the rounds about the future of their marriage but whatever happens, it's nice to see them doing something together because they are a popular couple.'

Another resident added: 'It's quite common knowledge that they've got marital problems and we've not seen them together recently.'  

'September scenes': Dominic's smiling wife Catherine picked hydrangeas in an Instagram picture posted at Glin castle last month after 'holding marriage crisis talks'

'September scenes': Dominic's smiling wife Catherine picked hydrangeas in an Instagram picture posted at Glin castle earlier this month after 'holding marriage crisis talks'

It comes after friends claimed Catherine is 'completely devastated' at the prospect of her marriage being over because she's 'still mad about' West.

But they speculate that Catherine, who has four children with West, had grown tired of being an actor's wife 'with all that entails.'

A friend told MailOnline: 'He lives this other life where he's away at least half the year and she and the kids are waiting for him.  

'She's living in a house in England for his career when I think anyone who knows her knows she would much rather be home in Ireland.

'The pictures of Dominic in Rome show just how separate their lives have become.

'Catherine is still mad about Dominic but it's plainly not working. She's been humiliated. Painful as it is, this looks like it could be the time to leave him.'  

Working together: Lily and Dominic are set to star in Emily Mortimer¿s adaptation of Nancy Mitford¿s celebrated novel The Pursuit Of Love for the BBC featuring Emily Beecham & Andrew Scott - filming began in July
Connection: The three part romantic comedy-drama about love and friendship is filming on location in the Bristol and Bath area and at The Bottle Yard Studios

Working together: Lily and Dominic are set to star in Emily Mortimer's adaptation of Nancy Mitford's celebrated novel The Pursuit Of Love for the BBC featuring Emily Beecham & Andrew Scott - filming began in July 

It was previously reported that landscape designer Catherine is preparing to end their relationship as the screen star, is said to have admitted to having feelings for Lily, 31.

The claims came just weeks after Dominic and his long-term partner staged a photo opportunity outside their Wiltshire home and told reporters: 'Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together.'

A source told The Sun: 'Catherine has told those closest to her that Dominic has admitted having feelings for Lily.

Body language expert Judi James claims Dominic and Catherine struck a 'denial pose'

Dominic West and his wife struck a 'denial pose' and went in for a 'contrived-looking' kiss in echoes of 'unfaithful politicians trying to save their careers', body language expert Judi James claims

She told MailOnline: 'Whether prompted by guilt or actual innocence, the denial ritual is notoriously and historically one of the trickiest non-verbal performances to pull off,' she explained. 

'A favourite of face-and-career-saving politicians, who would often involve their entire family in the Walton's-style shots, the public have become cynical as a result of so many of them emerging just prior to a split.'    

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'At first it seemed as though the whole thing was just a one-off but Catherine has since said it's become obvious it was more than that. Catherine feels crushed by it, naturally. It's a huge thing to be coming to terms with.

'She has since told the people closest to her their marriage is as good as over now and she doesn't think there is a way past this.'

MailOnline contacted representatives for Dominic and Lily for further comment at the time. 

Last month, old Etonian West confirmed his wife Catherine, had gone away, but explained: 'She's on a work trip. She's gone by herself.'

When asked if they were still together, he laughed: 'Of course we are. Our relationship is fine.'

Meanwhile, Dominic made his feelings on infidelity quite clear during an Evening Standard interview, back in 2016, when he asked the reporter why wives make such a fuss over infidelity.

He said: 'I really do. It's daft to kick someone out over a fling. Isn't it? Everyone should turn a blind eye to men's behaviour between the ages of 40 and 50. Let it all blow over.'

TV and film stars Dominic and Lily became the subject of worldwide scrutiny, when the images emerged showing the pair enjoying an al fresco lunch with their mutual agent, Angharad Wood. 

Lily and Dominic enjoyed a two-day vacation in Italy where they were seen riding on a scooter through Rome, and The Affair star appeared to at one point lean over and kiss her neck.

Bizarre: Shortly after his kiss with Lily, Dominic and Catherine handed out this note to reporters insisting they were together

Bizarre: The couple handed out this note to reporters insisting they were together 

A source told MailOnline they spent two nights in a suite at the top Hotel De La Ville with a panoramic view over the city and just at two minutes walk from the Spanish steps. Just days later, the father-of-five and his wife defended their marriage.

This came hours after Catherine told friends she was 'heartbroken' over the images, which went viral. 

The shell-shocked mother-of-four had clutched a tissue in her hand as she gingerly stepped out of the marital home in Chippenham, Wiltshire with her husband by her side, hiding her ring finger in her jeans pocket.

Dominic's ring was off as it had been for his weekend with Lily.  

It was previously reported that Catherine held crisis talks with her family over the future of her marriage. 

The couple - who tied the knot in June 2010 after reuniting following their university romance - share Dora, 13, Senan, 12, Francis, 11, and Christabel, seven, together.

While the Sheffield native has another daughter Martha, 21, with former girlfriend, aristocrat, Polly Astor.

Role: Dominic is best known for playing Noah Solloway in Showtime drama, The Affair, which explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship between his character and Alison Bailey (pictured with former co-star Ruth Wilson)

Role: Dominic is best known for playing Noah Solloway in Showtime drama, The Affair, which explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship between his character and Alison Bailey (pictured with former co-star Ruth Wilson)

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