By Catriona Rigney,Zara Woodcock
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Film director Tim Burton and actress-model Monica Bellucci have split, as revealed in a joint statement.
The exes had reportedly been dating since they reconnected in October 2022, but sparked dating rumours long before they confirmed their relationship in October 2023.
However, two years after going public with their romance, Tim and Monica have decided to part ways, which they confirmed in a statement. “It is with much respect and deep care for each other that Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton have decided to part ways,” the statement read.
Edward Scissorhands director Tim was last seen with Monica in June, sharing a tender moment on stage at the 71st Taormina Film Festival, Italy, where he was spotted planting a sweet kiss on Monica’s cheek, reports the Mirror.
In 2023, Monica opened up about her relationship with Tim in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar España. The star couldn’t help but gush over their love story, telling the publication: “I found in Tim [Burton] a wonderful spirit. I met a spectacular soul.”
She previously shared with Elle France: “What I can say… I’m glad I met the man, first of all. It’s one of those encounters that rarely happens in life… I know the man, I love him, and now I’m going to meet the director, another adventure begins.”
Monica added: “I love Tim. And I have great respect for Tim Burton.”
The director and model are believed to have initially encountered each other in 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival, though romance didn’t blossom between them – as both were in long-term partnerships – until they reconnected in 2022 at the LumieÌ€re Film Festival in Lyon, where the model presented Tim with a lifetime achievement award.
Throughout their romance Tim, 67, and model Monica, 60, also collaborated on their debut film together, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which hit cinemas last year. Tim has a tendency to feature his romantic partners in his productions.
Monica, who wasn’t part of the original Beetlejuice film 35 years earlier, portrayed Delores, Michael Beetlejuice’s former spouse. Speaking before the premiere, Monica said: “I’m so honoured to be part of this film and to come into Tim’s world.”
Prior to her romance with Tim, Monica had previously been in a relationship with Nicolas Lefebvre, before they split in 2019. She was also wed to French actor Vincent Cassel from 1997 to 2013. They had met in 1996 whilst filming the film Gilles Mimouni’s l’Appartement.
Monica and Vincent are parents to daughters Deva, born in 2004, and Leonie, born in 2010.
Tim was famously married to Helena Bonham Carter, with whom he collaborated on numerous films including Planet of the Apes, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
The pair were together for 13 years before splitting in 2014. Tim and Helena are parents to a 20 year old son named Billy and a 16 year old daughter named Nell.
Helena has previously opened up about the “massive grief” she experienced following her split from Tim. In a candid chat with Harper’s Bazaar in 2016, Helena confessed: “You go through massive grief – it is a death of a relationship, so it’s utterly bewildering. Your identity, everything, changes.”
She added: “Just saying: I’m not myself at the moment, so be careful. Everyone always says you have to be strong and have a stiff upper lip, but it’s okay to be fragile.”
