tigerrouge
don't look down
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I was occupied with the children while Mick was busy with the Stones, often leaving me at home on my own with the babies. I kept hearing stories of his dalliances with other women. Mick was a dangerous sexual predator and, although I loved him and he swore undying love for me, I felt unsure of him.
Even in our early days, my instincts told me he could not help indulging himself with other women, and by the time we had children I’d read about Mick’s dalliances in newspapers.
I decided I would live without him if need be. I rented a house in London and when I was offered a part in a film in Italy, I took it. After filming, I took the children to stay with friends in Tuscany. Mick kept calling me, telling me how he had changed, that he loved me and wanted to marry me in Bali. I still loved him very much, so I said yes.
Around this time, rumours were circulating that Mick had stolen Eric Clapton’s girlfriend, Carla Bruni, and had started an affair with her. Mick denied it, saying it was nothing and that he loved me and was marrying me. So I stifled my doubts and went ahead with our wedding. Our traditional Balinese Hindu ceremony was beautiful but, sadly, the day after Mick flew to Japan, saying he had to collect an award.
I threw myself into work, doing my first play, Bus Stop, in New York. Back in England, Mick bought us a beautiful 18th Century house on Richmond Hill, South-West London. Our third child, Georgia, was born in January 1992.
Although Mick wanted his children educated in England, he was a tax exile, so could only be with us a short time each year. And the Stones’ tours got longer and longer. I couldn’t just uproot the children and take them along. Even when Mick was with us, he took a long time to get back into family life. Over ten years, the Stones staged five world tours. Mick started to miss important family events – children’s birthdays and our anniversary. I was heartbroken that he wasn’t home in time for the birth of our fourth child, Gabriel, in December 1997.
Mick called while I was in labour to say he was so sorry he could not be there. He arrived home a week later. Then, after a holiday, he went back to the band’s Bridges To Babylon tour.
When Mick eventually returned to London, he looked shaken. A newspaper reported that a Brazilian model, Luciana Morad, was pregnant with his baby. It was the final straw. I told him I wanted a divorce. Breaking up with Mick was painful. I had been tempted to leave him many times but had put up with his infidelities. However, having a child with another woman was too much.
The most difficult part was telling the children. I explained to them that we loved them and were still their parents. Mick and I were determined that, even though our marriage had ended, we would continue to be parents together – and we have.
Today I still live in the Richmond house with my two younger children and, although life is different now, I am happier than ever. The wonderful thing about getting older is that you are grateful for the simple things in life. When I wake up, I go downstairs, let the dogs out, make coffee and collect lovely, warm brown eggs that my chickens have laid.
Lizzie spends a lot of time in New York but when she’s in England she stays in a cottage in our garden. James lives in Camden but he comes home a lot, and we try to have lunch together every Sunday. I feel blessed to have had such an interesting and varied career. Over the past few years, I have been able to develop my acting and I’ve loved taking challenging theatre roles, such as Mrs Robinson in The Graduate.
Mick and I are able to talk on friendly terms about our children. Of course, I still love him – how can you un-love? But, we have both moved on. After the divorce, the children and I spent the summer in France, where our friends, Dave Stewart, of the Eurythmics, and Anoushka Fisz were getting married. Mick came and the next day he went off with a camera crew – he was making a documentary of his life. I thought how lucky I was that I didn’t care what he got up to. It was no longer my problem.
I am good friends with his other exes, Marsha Hunt and Bianca Jagger. I’m also friends with Mick’s current partner, L’Wren Scott. To be honest, I think she’s better at dealing with him than I am. He needs a lot of adoration, which I wasn’t willing to give him.
Mick and I meet at parties now and then. He comes over to see the children and he has them for the summer holidays. It’s good not to mind. It’s good to have moved on.