'Game of Thrones' star Charles Dance, 76, reveals how he met 'wonderful' girlfriend Alessandra Masi, 54
LONDON, ENGLAND: 'The Crown' star Charles Dance expressed his gratitude for his Italian lover, who is 22 years his junior. Dance, 76, called his 54-year-old girlfriend Alessandra Masi "wonderful" as he revealed for the first time how they met while filming his just-released movie, 'The Book of Vision'. Masi, a former actress, served as production manager on the surreal historical film, which was filmed in Italy and Belgium.
Dance plays two doctors in the movie, one in contemporary London and the other in Prussia in the eighteenth century. Asked what was his main memory of the movie, he said, "To be honest, it’s meeting Alessandra." The Bologna University alumnus now spends most of her time with him, "which I'm really pleased about," he says.
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Dance acknowledged that his excitement at meeting her eclipsed the movie in an interview with The Times, adding, "‘Well, it does a bit. Alessandra’s fantastic. I’m very, very lucky." The pair have been dating for three years. The couple was spotted cozying up to each other at the Picturehouse Central last month attending the screening of 'Sr', a documentary about the life of the late Robert Downey Sr, made by his son Robert Downey Jr.
Dance gained a new group of fans when he played Tywin Lannister in 'Game of Thrones'. Dance is also well-recognized for his roles in 'The Jewel in the Crown', 'White Mischief', and 'Gosford Park'. He most recently appeared in 'The Crown' as Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
Dance, whose marriage to Joanna Haythorn lasted from 1970 until 2004, is renowned for dating younger women. Prior to his divorce, he was associated with Emilia Fox. From 2003 to 2005, he dated Sophia Myles, an actress who was 33 years his junior. Later, Dance dated Shambhala Marthe, a model who was 26 years his junior. The artist Eleanor Boorman, who was 25 years his junior, became his next love. After she had a daughter with him at the age of 65, they separated, as per the Daily Mail.
Speaking after his divorce from Haythron, he said, "I feel 35. I probably behave 25. It’s certainly been a period of change for me. Some of the time I handled it well and some of the time I didn’t. It was difficult to get back into family life after being away."
The actor, who swims on Hampstead Heath to stay in shape, said in an interview in 2019 that he appreciates "beautiful women." He added, "I like independence, I like strong women, women who survive and thrive in what is still a male-dominated world in most professions." 'The Book of Vision' has been in production for five years, but owing to Covid and distribution issues, it has only been made public now.