Game of Thrones star Carice van Houten has revealed she and actor Guy Pearce split "years" ago, despite the public only just learning of their separation.
The Dutch actress, 48, made the announcement on Instagram, addressing speculation about their relationship status that had emerged in recent weeks.
The couple, who had been widely believed to be together since 2015, share their nine-year-old son, Monte.
Houten addressed the situation directly on her Instagram Stories, stating: "I don't usually engage in discussions about my personal life, but because of a number of conclusions in the media last week regarding my relationship with Guy, I wanted to make something clear."
"He and I are great friends and love each other very much, but we haven't been a couple for years," she wrote.
The actress added: "I am, however, very proud to say we are in a wonderful partnership raising the true love of our lives – our beautiful son and his hamster."
Guy Pearce alluded to his split earlier this month
PA
Pearce and Houten began their relationship in 2015, following the end of his nearly 20-year marriage to Kate Mestitz.
The following year, they welcomed their son Monte, who is now nine years old.
The pair had managed to keep their separation private until recent speculation emerged about their relationship status.
Questions about the couple's status arose after Pearce recently spoke about his previous marriage, referring to his ex-wife Kate as "the greatest love of my life".
Carice van Houten starred in Game of Thrones and cleared up their status
HBO
Speaking to The Guardian earlier this month, she said: "My ex-wife, Kate, was the greatest love of my life, but I’ve moved on from her now, and the greatest love of my life is my child, Monte."
The Neighbours actor previously opened up about becoming emotional watching the birth of his child and the daunting prospect of becoming a father.
He explained to the Independent: "After Monte was born, someone said to me, 'You realise you’re now living with your heart on the outside?' And it really is true, isn’t it?"
"When I started acting, I knew if I needed to cry that it could come out easily. Then after 15 years of therapy, I became a far calmer and more satisfied human being, but trying to cry in a scene became impossible.
"Since having my boy though, I cry at the drop of a hat again..."
The experience also helped him connect with his own father, who passed away in a plane crash when Pearce was eight years old.
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The couple share their son Monte
The Mare Of Easttown actor spent his adult years trying to find out more about his father. “It’s like I was looking for the answer about my dad in this one place whereas it was somewhere else all along,” he said.
“It almost makes me want to tear up. The idea that I am now carrying feelings that I believe he felt connects me to him more than any amount of intellectual thoughts.
