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Richard Gere’s Shocking New Life in Spain with Wife 34 Years Younger

BBG News

While many men may consider their eighth decade as a period for relaxation and savoring life’s basic joys amidst the comforts of what they know, Richard Gere certainly does not fit that mold.

After being known as Hollywood’s foremost romantic hero, at the age of 75, the actor, despite his snowy hair, still looks youthful, has decided to leave his homeland and relocate 3,500 miles away to settle in the vibrant Spanish city of Madrid.

Why? For love, of course.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but marvel at the charm of the gentleman who, gracing the silver screen in iconic films like An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman, left his co-stars breathless and sent a multitude of hearts fluttering.

The actor, who’s still learning the local language fluently, is actively settling into life in Madrid with his 41-year-old Spanish spouse, Alejandra Silva, and their two small children.

Known not only for his roles in Hollywood but also for his advocacy of Buddhism and Free Tibet, Gere recently moved to Europe where he’s been welcomed by the city. The Mail on Sunday found out last week that the city is being understanding as he learns the local language.

The pair, who resided in Connecticut, sold their expansive ranch for approximately £8.6 million. It’s said they purchased a grand, three-story house in the upscale neighborhood of La Moraleja, featuring both a swimming pool and wine cellar.

It’s evident that the move has delighted Alejandra, a native of Galicia but a resident of Madrid, whose father, Ignacio Silva – a successful businessman and formerly the vice president of football club Real Madrid – raised her in the city.

She shared a picture on the 29th of November showing her sons, Alexander aged 5, and James aged 4, arranging ornaments on a giant Christmas tree by sorting items from large plastic containers.

In her accompanying caption this year, she announced, “Finally in Spain!” The bare shelves visible behind her hinted that there was still some organizing and settling left to do.

On Christmas Day, it was discovered that the Gere family, which also includes Alejandra’s oldest son Albert (age 12), who is also stepson to them, visited the renowned Chocolateria San Gines, a popular destination in Madrid for enjoying the beloved Spanish treats, chocolate and churros.

Since 1894, the cafe has been preparing its famous ‘dipped doughnuts’. However, even with this longstanding tradition, manager Jesus Figuera remained apprehensive when a renowned group entered. Meanwhile, Gere, casually clad in a baseball cap, seemed to have slipped under the radar of the other patrons.

In the afternoon, San Gines was bustling, but they arrived inconspicuously via a car parked outside, as he shared with the MoS. Blending seamlessly with the other patrons, they appeared quite comfortable, and Richard showed clear signs of contentment among the crowd.

‘He was consistently humble, friendly, and always sporting a smile. They were conversing amongst themselves, praising the deliciousness of the chocolate, when Richard inquired about its origin, using a blend of Spanish and English. At times when his questions were unclear, his wife and their companions would allow him to continue speaking but then clarify by explaining in Spanish.’

However, Richard clearly feels comfortable here, as demonstrated by his attempt to converse in Spanish and their diligence in leaving their dishes clean.

Additionally, it’s said that the pair frequently dined at the luxurious restaurant Aurea, which is conveniently situated not far from their residence.

This past month, Gerald and Ale (Alejandra), enjoyed their time in the coastal town of Malaga, a popular vacation spot, where they dined with actor Antonio Banderas and witnessed a live performance of his musical, Gypsy.

In a generous spirit, Gerald humorously commented, “Though I may not grasp all aspects of it in Spanish, I truly enjoyed the performance.

It appears that Alejandra had been longing for her home for quite a while now, as evidenced by their discussions about where to settle down after their marriage in 2018. Initially, he managed to persuade her, but the decision was his at the outset.

However, according to what Gere shared with talk-show host Jimmy Fallon, his wife is from Spain, and they have lived in the U.S. for around seven years. Consequently, they plan to reside in Madrid for a few years.

‘We are happier than ever. She, because she is at home and I, because if she is happy, I am happy.’

I’m utterly smitten by the fact that Alejandra is meticulously arranging Sunday feasts for thirty-five souls, mirroring the legacy of her cherished grandmother – the very bond that kept us all united.

It appears that food and their cherished kids serve as the bonding agent for this pair. Richard, according to Alejandra, is an exceptionally attentive and involved father. He enjoys reading them tales, and he’s a fantastic parent.

She mentioned that he isn’t very skilled in the kitchen, so she does the cooking instead. When she is preparing meals, he entertains by playing the guitar.

So far, everything has been picture-perfect, if this is the pinnacle of marital happiness, it seems it took its sweet time arriving. It wasn’t until 1982 that Gere swept a factory worker off her feet to the tunes of Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ Up Where We Belong (and not forgetting the famous cheers of ‘Way to go Paula!’ from her workmates), which was a year before Alejandra came into being.

And she was seven when he gallantly came to the rescue of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

In 1980, the actor who made his breakthrough in American Gigolo got married to supermodel Cindy Crawford, but they parted ways four years later (from 1991 to 1995). Later, he married actress Cary Lowell and together they have a son, Homer, who is now 24. His son’s name was chosen in honor of Gere’s late father, who lived to be 100 and passed away in 2023. However, the couple separated in 2013 after 11 years of marriage.

As for Alejandra, she spent her childhood in an affluent neighborhood just beyond Madrid, living with her two sisters. She attended the prestigious Mater Salvatoris school and had a short stint at the exclusive Catholic boarding school, Leweston, situated in Sherborne, Dorset, England.

In my past, I pursued higher education in advertising and marketing at a prestigious institution in Madrid, and later honed my skills in the advertising sector at an esteemed agency. Subsequently, I expanded my expertise by delving into the dynamic world of marketing within the realm of aviation.

Originally part of the high-society circle in Madrid, she briefly dated football defender Roberto Carlos from Real Madrid, later tying the knot with Govind Friedland, a geologist and entrepreneur, who is the son of mining magnate Robert Friedland, in 2012.

Three years after her marriage concluded, Alejandra found herself managing a hotel in the fashionable Italian town of Positano, previously inhabited by film director Franco Zeffirelli. It was during this time that she encountered Gere in the year 2015.

He had become acquainted with her family prior to their friendship, as he had met Alejandra’s dad (Nacho) during a commercial shoot on Formentera Island back in 2000 when Alejandra was 17 years old.

In 2002, Richard Gere, who received a Golden Globe for his role as smooth-talking attorney Billy Flynn in the movie version of Chicago, quipped that he had mistakenly believed he was meeting George Clooney when they first crossed paths.

According to Alejandra, their relationship grew swiftly as he kept sending her flowers, eventually leading her to agree to a date. She explained that it didn’t take long for both of them to feel that they were destined to be together.

During an interview with Hola! magazine in 2016, she expressed: “Richard has been a true-life role model for me. We’ve supported each other through thick and thin.” Sharing the same faith as Buddhists (she adopted it after their meeting), they embrace the concept of reincarnation.

In my own words, I’d express it as follows: “I felt adrift and directionless, devoid of guidance, but encountering him infused purpose into my existence. It was as if he extended a helping hand to guide me onto the right path, and our connection transcends this life – we have walked together through countless lives before.

Regardless of the obvious age gap and everyone’s understanding of what it takes to be a Hollywood celebrity, some immense cosmic influence seems to make their troubles vanish.

Now there’s a storyline for a film. A truly international one at that.

In the summer of 2015, while we were each navigating our divorces, our budding romance became known to the world when we were noticed aboard a yacht near the shores of Sicily.

In the year 2018, they exchanged marriage vows first in a simple civil ceremony in Spain, followed by an extravagant event at Gere’s ranch, located beyond New York City. At this grand occasion, he serenaded his bride with Spanish tunes, they performed a flamenco dance, and she adorned no less than three wedding dresses.

At that moment, she expressed feeling as if she was “the most fortunate woman on earth” and stated it seemed “as if I’m living in a genuine fairy tale.

Gere expresses a similar sentiment: “I’ve discovered the peaceful and contented lifestyle I’ve long desired,” he shared with an interviewer.

He expressed that he was incredibly content, almost as if he were the luckiest individual in all of existence. Given his circumstances – being married to an intelligent, compassionate woman dedicated to serving others – it seemed impossible for him not to be joyful.

Speaking of remarkable individuals, who possess a playful spirit, immense patience, an ability to forgive, and extraordinary culinary skills – particularly excelling at creating mouthwatering salads that are unrivaled worldwide!

In February 2019, just shy of his 70th birthday by six months, they joyfully welcomed their first child into their family. The approaching event was made official when Alejandra shared a picture online, featuring the Dalai Lama himself, reaching towards her expanding belly.

Their second son swiftly followed, in April 2020.

Apart from their shared love for each other, this duo is equally dedicated to humanitarian efforts, particularly towards alleviating homelessness in Spain through their strong affiliation with the Spanish NGO Hoga Si. Their ambition is clearly stated: they aim to eradicate street homelessness in Spain within the next five years.

One individual who expresses approval is Father Angel, a Catholic priest and benefactor, who extends help in the form of food and shelter to the homeless via his organization, Messengers of Peace, and also at a local eatery known as Robin Hood.

For several years, he has been acquainted with the couple, and they occasionally attend his church together. This week, he shared with the Metropolitan Officer (MoS) that he still keeps in touch with Richard and his spouse through occasional WhatsApp messages. It’s worth noting that Richard is someone who often lends a helping hand when it comes to addressing social welfare concerns.

It makes me joyful that they reside in Spain these days… Most importantly, they’re playing a crucial role in educating officials, the government, and others about our ability to collectively contribute towards creating a more harmonious world.

In November, shortly after moving to Madrid, the couple was honored with awards for their achievements in a distinct field. Specifically, they received the Elle Eco Award 2024 together, recognizing their efforts with the Sierra a Mar project in Mexico. This project concentrates on preserving and fostering sustainable growth along an awe-inspiring section of coastline.

The interview that recently appeared in Elle was prompted by this very award, and once more, Alejandra brought up the topic of karma within it.

In my perspective, it feels as though we’re kindred spirits, deeply connected in a way that transcends time. Our shared values and perspectives on life have forged an immediate bond between us, one that makes it seem like we’ve known each other for lifetimes. This unique connection, I believe, is the result of our past lives intertwining – a rare and precious occurrence that not everyone experiences.

In a cheerful greeting, Senior Geré welcomes a fresh start in Spain while parting ways with Hollywood. There’s no question that numerous women will enthusiastically exclaim, “Bravo, Alexandra!

Additional reporting: Gerard Couzens

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2025-01-26 05:38

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