Anna Friel admits she was ‘distraught’ after being dumped by her first boyfriend Darren Day as she reveals his brutal move following split

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Anna Friel openly shared that she felt deeply sad when her longtime boyfriend Darren Day ended their relationship, which had lasted for three years.

In 1994, when Anna, aged 49, was acting on Brookside, the pair started dating. Interestingly, the actor proposed to her with an expensive £30,000 engagement ring at that time.

Two weeks following his breakup with Anna, at the age of 57, Darren began dating Tracy Shaw from Coronation Street. Remarkably, he proposed to her using the very same ring he had initially intended for his former partner.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine, I confessed that one of my greatest regrets following our separation from Darren was parting ways with a significant portion of my cherished wardrobe. Unfortunately, I discovered later on that he had discarded these items when I went back to retrieve them.

She shared that during the ’90s, she had a remarkable capsule wardrobe. After parting ways with her first boyfriend, Darren Day, she was deeply upset and hastily took only the essential items before leaving behind her entire wardrobe, which included an outstanding Afghan coat from the Kings Road.

‘I remember years later calling to ask for my clothes back and he’d ditched them all.’ 

Later on, Anna got married to David Thewlis, her partner with whom she has a 20-year-old daughter named Gracie. However, they parted ways in 2010. Following this, she tied the knot with Rhys Ifans, famously known for his role in Notting Hill, in 2011. Regrettably, their union didn’t last long and ended in 2014 as well.

Darren met and fell in love with actress Stephanie Dooley in 2010, but they ended their marriage after nine years.

Previously, the West End star had confessed that during his relationship with Anna, Robbie Williams made an attempt to win Anna’s affections away from him.

In the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2016, he recounted an incident where someone called his home, and when he answered, a man identified himself as “Derrick from Go Discs” and asked to speak to Anna.

I handed the phone to her, and she chatted for roughly ten minutes. Occasionally, it seemed as though she was feeling uneasy, so I inquired about her well-being later on.

Later, she shared that the caller was none other than Robbie Williams and he had proposed a date. My response was something along the lines of, “Wow, what audacity!

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but reminisce about the unforgettable Anna, best known for her iconic portrayal of Beth Jordache in Channel 4’s Brookside. In previous times, she’s made it crystal clear that her daughter Gracie seemed less inclined to tread the path of acting that her mother had so masterfully paved.

In 2020, Anna shared with Daily Mail that Gracie has no interest in acting: “She isn’t interested in it. Her father is an exceptional actor, and she’s spent a lot of time on film sets. However, she’s more passionate about music.

For her, playing the guitar serves as an escape. She humorously comments, ‘It’s work for you, but you get compensated. I’m fortunate to have wonderful parents.’ She consistently maintains a positive outlook.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve found myself forming a special bond with my little one, Gracie, since she turned five. We’ve essentially become our own tight-knit unit. During her third year, we ventured into ten different countries together. Whenever travel beckons, I ensure that Gracie is by my side, making every journey an enriching experience for both of us.

The mother and daughter have traveled extensively around the world, producing films and television shows while also engaging in charitable work. However, the teenage girl decided to pause their travels during the pandemic because of her academic commitments at school.

Gracie mentioned that this is their final year for traveling. Since she’s pursuing the International Baccalaureate program, it’s not feasible for her to change schools. This implies that when you travel, she won’t be there with you.

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2025-08-11 14:20