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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Needham

James McAvoy secretly marries US girlfriend six years after Anne-Marie Duff split

James McAvoy has tied the knot for a second time.

The actor, 42, revealed he has secretly married American partner Lisa Liberati as he proudly called himself an 'honorary Philadelphian.'

The Atonement actor was rumoured to have married personal assistant Lisa back in 2019, but has always refused to address the speculation.

However, during an interview with the Guardian, the paper reports: "They began a relationship a couple of years later and, he confirms, recently got married."

James was asked if he was now an 'honorary Philadelphian', to which he replied "Yeah it's like a second home for me."

James McAvoy has confirmed he is married to partner Lisa Liberati (Getty Images for BFC)
The first photo of the couple posted to Instagram in 2019 (jamesmcavoyrealdeal/Instagram)

The couple began dating in 2018 after meeting on the set of the M Night Shyamalan movie Split.

James worked on the film following his break-up from actress Anne-Marie Duff, after 11 years together.

Shortly after his divorce with Anne-Marie was finalised, James and Lisa were pictured on Instagram together doing couples fancy dress for Halloween.

The pair looked totally smitten as they beamed for a selfie while wearing matching wigs and hoodies.

A year later, rumours began to swirl that the lovebirds had married in secret.

James has always refused to confirm speculation about his love life (WireImage)

Director Jamie Lloyd was overheard referring to Lisa as James' 'wife' and saying that the pair had married 'recently.'

However, James - who prefers not to discuss his relationships - declined to comment.

The actor met his first wife Anne-Marie on the set of Channel 4's Shameless in 2003.

Anne-Marie played the platinum blonde Fiona while James played her love interest Steve.

Ironically, Anne-Marie almost turned down Shameless (which went on to run for 11 series) - it was only after her mother read the script that she was convinced to take part.

Scenes between the pair bristled with chemistry and it was soon revealed they were dating in real-life. But both said they would never talk about their relationship on red carpets or in interviews.

They married in 2006 and welcomed son Brendan in 2010.

They announced their separation in 2016 with a joint statement which read: "It is with tremendous sadness that we have come to the decision to divorce.

James was previously married to Shameless co-star Anne-Marie Duff (CHANNEL 4)
James and Anne-Marie played a couple Fiona and Steve on the Channel 4 series (CHANNEL 4)

"We enter this next phase with continued friendship, love and respect for one another and the shared focus of caring for our son.”

Speaking after their shock split, James said things 'are really good' between him and Anne-Marie.

While in an interview with the Times in 2018, Anne-Marie said of the divorce: "Divorce is a profound, difficult experience. It just is. It’s a bit like you go to bed and you wake up holding hands in a hurricane. And nobody gave you any storm warnings.

"And if you are recognisable, you can’t leave the hurricane at home, because you walk down the street and everyone knows you are holding hands with the hurricane.

"They mean well and they are well-wishers, but they are strangers so you have to deal with that for a while and be as big a version of yourself as you can be.”

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