Peter Serafinowicz has quietly separated from his wife, actress Sarah Alexander, after more than two decades together, according to reports.
The actor and comedian, known for roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, The Phantom Menace and most recently BBC’s Amandaland, has parted ways with Alexander, 54, in what a source described as “very sad”.
The pair, who share a son and daughter, had been married for 23 years.
“It’s very sad, but the split is recent,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Serafinowicz, 52, was last seen in BBC comedy Amandaland as Johannes Van Der Velde, the flamboyant South African boyfriend of Lucy Punch’s social climber Amanda.
The Motherland spin-off explores middle-class motherhood and stars Punch as Amanda, who downsized in series one and moved with her children to south Harlesden, London, following her divorce.
The Liverpool-born actor’s career has spanned both sides of the Atlantic.
He voiced Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, appeared in Shaun of the Dead, and recently landed the hosting gig on Netflix’s new game show Million Dollar Secret — described as the streamer’s response to The Traitors.
Alexander, best known for her roles in Coupling and Green Wing, made headlines in the early 2000s for her high-profile relationship with veteran actor Gerald Harper, then 70, when she was 30.
She later left Harper for Serafinowicz, whom she went on to marry.
Last month, it was announced that Amandaland will return for a second series.
Dame Joanna Lumley was introduced as her mother Felicity, with the first series also starring Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney and Line Of Duty’s Rochenda Sandall as couple Della and Fi.
Co-creator Sharon Horgan said: “With any new show you put out there, your main hope is to make something you love and are proud of.
“The extra bonus is that it’s a critical hit. But to have a loyal audience of this size is just beyond your hopes and expectations.
“The incredible cast and writers, director and production team worked so hard on this show, and it’s so wonderful to see that hard work pay off.
“Special thanks to Lucy for being the most extraordinary frontwoman and to the BBC for having such faith in the idea of Amandaland from the off.”
The Standard has contacted Peter Serafinowicz’s rep for comment.
