Colin Firth’s wife Livia admits she had a fling with her ‘childhood friend turned stalker’ during marriage split in 2015
The film producer, 48, released a statement explaining she was romantically involved with journalist Marco Brancaccia, 55, before he 'began harassing her'
COLIN Firth's wife has admitted to a fling with her "childhood friend turned stalker" during a brief split from the actor.
Livia Giuggioli, 48, has accused 55-year-old journalist Marco Brancaccia of harassing her via phone calls and messages, leaving her terrified she was being followed.
A statement released on behalf of the film producer read: "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.
"Subsequently, Mr Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented. For obvious reasons, the Firths have never had any desire to make this matter public."
Branaccia has also spoken out about the claims, strongly refuting Giuggioli's version of events.
reports he said: "We were romantically involved, she wanted to leave Colin for me.
"My 'stalking' consisted of two messages via WhatsApp after she ended our relationship in June 2016, and an email.
"I wrote an email to Colin about my relationship with Livia, which I now regret sending, and she filed a complaint against me for stalking out of fear that I could go public with what she had revealed to me about her marriage and work.
"In a year she sent me hundreds of messages of love, photos and videos, even a diary."
In addition to the messages sent to Giuggioli, Firth, 57, is also said to have received photographs from Branaccia via email.
A spokesman for Italy's Carabinieri police said: “A complaint has been made by the couple to prosecutors and the police have been investigating.”
Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported how Branaccia, a journalist for news agency Ansa, began harassing Giuggioli, after fearing being cut out of her life.
The journalist also allegedly threatened to write compromising articles about her and Firth.
Firth and Giugglioli married in 1997 and have two children.
The family split their time between Chiswick in West London and Città della Pieve in Umbria, Italy.
Lawyers for Branaccia have refuted the allegations saying: “Mr Brancaccia has absolutely nothing to do with the events described and has already filed a legal complaint to protect his good name and his honour, and to be able to supply his version of the truth of what happened.”
Prosecutors want the case to go to trial in Rome.
According to his Twitter profile, Branaccia works as Ansa's Brazil Bureau Chief.
Giuggioli is a film producer specialising in documentaries, and she also co-founded Eco-Age, a marketing company focusing on sustainability and benefiting the environment, with her brother Nicola.
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Last August Firth applied for an Italian passport and dual British-Italian citizenship last month and was accepted after an interview and test.
The Interior Ministry in Rome said: “Italian citizenship has been granted to Colin Andrew Firth.
“He has often declared his love for our land.”
A source told The Sun Online: “He speaks Italian, is wed to an Italian and often visits Italy. Citizenship makes sense.”
In a statement from his agent on Saturday Mr Firth said he would always be "extremely British" but amid "uncertainty" his family decided to all get the same citizenship.
The star said: "A connection with Italy has existed in my family for more than two decades now. I was married there and had two children born in Rome.
"My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries. We feel that we’ve made a gift of that to each other.
"Our children have been dual citizens since the beginning. We never really thought much about our different passports. But now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible that we should all get the same."
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