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Why Did Toni Collette Split With Her Husband? What Happened?
As a result of his being photographed passionately kissing a young woman in the water off a Sydney beach, Toni Collette, a legendary actress in Hollywood, has announced her separation from her musician husband of almost 20 years.
When he first met the Muriel’s Wedding actress, drummer Dave Galafassi was a member of an indie rock band. On Wednesday, they were seen taking a morning swim at Manly with an unidentified blonde.
On Wednesday afternoon, Daily Mail Australia contacted Collette’s management about the pictures. A few hours later, she shared a joint statement on her recently reactivated Instagram account informing her followers that the couple had broken up.
‘It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,’ the pair wrote. ‘We’re united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.
‘Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We’re thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.’
Hollywood great Toni Collette has announced she is splitting from her musician husband of almost 20 years after he was snapped passionately kissing a young woman in the surf off a Sydney beach
Dave Galafassi, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the star of Muriel’s Wedding, was pictured with a mystery blonde taking a morning dip at Manly on Wednesday
Daily Mail Australia contacted Collette’s management about the photographs on Wednesday afternoon and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly-reactivated Instagram account
Just five days prior, Collette reactivated her Instagram account by posting a picture of herself sipping from a “Happy Birthday” cup along with the comment, “I’m back. World, welcome. I cherish you.
Exclusive photos from Wednesday show Galafassi kissing and cuddling the bikini-clad beauty in front of other swimmers both in the water and on the sand.
They arrived at the beach at 7:30 in the morning, went swimming for 15 minutes, and then bought a coffee. The couple was “all over each other,” according to a witness.
Galafassi sat on a sea wall and the young woman, wearing an open shirt and sunglasses, leaned forward as they appeared to be deep in conversation.
Hours before her divorce announcement Collette posted a cryptic note to Instagram stating: ‘No matter what your current circumstances are, if you can imagine something better for yourself, you can create it.’
Galafassi was seen resting on a sea wall on Wednesday morning as the young woman, wearing an open shirt and sunglasses, leant forward. The pair hit the water about 7.30am for 15 minutes then bought a coffee
Collette announced on Thursday she had split from Galafassi in a joint statement released on her newly-reactivated Instagram account. ‘It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,’ the pair wrote
‘Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape,’ the pair wrote. ‘We’re thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks’
As he was captured hugging and kissing the bikini-clad beauty in front of other beachgoers on the sand and in the sea, Galafassi’s right shoulder tattoo was clearly apparent.
With two kids ages 14 and 11, Collette, 50, and Galafassi, 44, have recently split their time between Australia and the United States.
The two first crossed paths in Sydney, Australia in 2002 at the release party for Gelbison, a band led by Galafassi, and their second meeting took place at a house party a short time later.
Collette admitted to The Sydney Morning Herald in September 2018 that “he was the first person I saw when I walked in the door.”
‘He kissed me on the cheek and I just kind of melted. I planned to stay for ten minutes… I was there for 12 hours. It was a good day.’
Colette is one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, starring in The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hours, Knives Out and the television series United States of Tara
Collette, 50 and Galafassi, 44, have two children aged 14 and 11 and have divided their time between Australia and the United States in recent years
Galafassi is pictured with his arms wrapped around the mystery blonde at Manly Beach on Wednesday morning
In Sydney, during the release party for hiss band Gelbison’s debut album Metal Detector, Galafassi first met Collette. A few days later, at a house party.
One of Australia’s most well-known actors, Colette has been in such films and television shows as The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hours, Knives Out, and United States of Tara.
She received a Golden Globe nomination for the United States of Tara, for which she also won an Emmy, and an Oscar nomination for The Sixth Sense.
Less than a year after they first met, in January 2003, Galafassi and Collette were wed in Buddhist ceremonies on her property in Berry on the south coast of New South Wales.
The ceremony was followed by a weekend of partying which featured dancing monks, fireworks and a vegetarian banquet for 100 guests.
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Actor Rachel Griffiths, who starred alongside Collette in Muriel’s Wedding, was among those to attend the nuptials.
Galafassi and Collette were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast less than a year after they met, in January 2003
Collette and Galafassi’s wedding was followed by a weekend of partying which featured dancing monks, fireworks and a vegetarian banquet for 100 guests
Galafassi and the mystery blonde are pictured cavorting in the water off Manly Beach
The two appeared unconcerned with displaying their affection in front of others.
Collette, who was born in Sydney and is also a singer and songwriter, later established a band with Galafassi, who is from Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast.
In October 2006, Toni Collette & The Finish put out an album titled Beautiful Awkward Pictures, and the following month they gave a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Since 2007, the pair has not performed or released any songs.
Their son Arlo Robert was born in April 2011, and their daughter Sage Florence was born in January 2008.
The normally private Collette spoke about marriage and monogamy in an interview in September 2018, when she and Galafassi had been together more than 15 years.
At the time Collette was appearing in the British TV series Wanderlust in which she played a counsellor desperately trying to save her marriage after a cycling accident.
Collette is pictured holding the Emmy she won for United States of Tara alongside Galafassi at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in 2009
Sydney-born Collette, who is also a singer and songwriter, formed a band with Galafassi, who comes from the NSW mid north coast town of Port Macquarie
Collette’s character Joy found herself questioning monogamy and wanting more out of her relationship with husband Alan. Both Joy and Alan have affairs.
‘It’s so honest and real, it’ll be a conversation-starter,” Collette told the Herald of the TV series.
‘Everybody goes through the same stuff. When people get married, they’re very idealistic, but it’s hard to know how people are going to grow and change.
‘And if you don’t make an effort to [do that] together, you don’t know what’ll happen.’
Collette spoke glowingly of her husband in an interview with Now to Love in January the next year.
‘My husband is such a good person,’ she said. ‘He’s so patient. He’s amazing with our kids and he’s so loving, caring and supportive. He puts everybody else first. I’m the luckiest woman, I really am.’
Galafassi and his young companion made the most of a sunny morning at Manly
Galafassi appeared comfortable in each other’s company during their trip to Manly
Collette said she had spoken to Galfassi about the themes of Wanderlust, including infidelity, in the same interview.
‘This [having an open relationship] isn’t something I would ever entertain in my own marriage,’ she said.
‘But my husband has seen the entire show and his one comment was, that even though it was a little confronting at times, he was adamant it was the best work I’ve ever done, which I found so moving.’
Collette and Galafassi lived in Sydney in the 2000s before moving to Los Angeles and returning to Sydney.
The couple bought a Bronte cottage for $4.4 million in 2009, which was sold at a loss a couple of years later for $3.5 million.
In May 2013 they were ordered to pay $815,000 after pulling out of the purchase of a terrace in Sydney’s inner-city Paddington.
After a dip in the ocean the pair towelled off back on the shore on Wednesday morning
Time for one more hug: Galafassi and his companion embrace on the sand after swimming
