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Hollywood great Toni Collette announced she had split 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 an early 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.
‘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’s musician husband of almost 20 years has been 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 an early morning dip at Manly on Wednesday
Collette and Galafassi are pictured at a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief in New York in 2013
In Wednesday’s pictures, Galafassi’s right shoulder tattoo was clearly visible as he was photographed hugging and kissing the bikini-clad beauty in the water and on the sand in front of other swimmers.
At one point the pair appeared deep in conversation as Galafassi rested on a sea wall and the young woman, wearing an open shirt and sunglasses, leant forward.
Collette, 50 and Galafassi, 44, have two children aged 14 and 11 and have split their time between Australia and the United States in recent years.
The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi’s band Gelbison’s debut album Metal Detector in Sydney and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party.
‘He was the first person I saw when I walked in the door,’ Collette told The Sydney Morning Herald in September 2018.
‘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.’
At one point the pair appeared deep in conversation as Galafassi rested on a sea wall and the young woman, wearing an open shirt and sunglasses, leant forward
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
Galafassi’s right shoulder tattoo was clearly visible as he was photographed hugging and kissing the bikini-clad beauty on the sand and in the water
Collette, 50 and Galafassi, 44, have two children aged 14 and 11 and have split 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
Galafassi met Collette at the launch of hiss band Gelbison’s debut album Metal Detector in Sydney and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party
Colette is one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, starring in The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hours and the television series United States of Tara.
She was nominated for an Oscar for The Sixth Sense and won an Emmy for United States of Tara, for which she also picked up a Golden Globe.
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.
The ceremony was followed by a weekend of partying which featured dancing monks, fireworks and a vegetarian banquet for 100 guests.
Actor Rachel Griffiths, who starred alongside Collette in Muriel’s Wedding, was among those to attend the nuptials.
Colette is one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, starring in The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hours and the television series United States of Tara
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 pair seemed unconcerned about showing public displays of affection
Sydney-born Collette, who is also a singer and songwriter, subsequently formed a band with Galafassi, who comes from the NSW mid north coast town of Port Macquarie.
Toni Collette & The Finish released an album called Beautiful Awkward Pictures in October 2006 and the next month performed at the Sydney Opera House.
The couple has not performed or released any music since 2007.
Their daughter Sage Florence was born in January 2008 and son Arlo Robert in April 2011.
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
Galafassi’s companion covered her lower half in a wrap after a swim in the ocean
The NSW Supreme Court ruled the couple had agreed to buy the house for more than $6million in September 2011 from Industrie clothing founders Nick and Susan Kelly.
The day before the sale was to go through Collette and Galafassi backed out, saying they did not have the money.
The compensation was reduced to $602,500 following an appeal. The couple also lost their deposit of $317,500, bringing their total loss to almost $1million.
In December 2019 Collette revealed Galafassi had been involved in a life-threatening motorcycle accident in NSW.
Fun in the sun: Galafassi’s friend was all smiles as she waded through the surf on Wednesday
Collette’s management in the United States has been contacted about the photographs
‘Recently my husband had a devastating motorbike accident,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘He’s now recovering slowly but well. We’re so lucky to still have him.’
Collette thanked NSW Ambulance and Toll Ambulance Rescue for saving her husband’s life.
‘It may not have been the case without the work of the incredible folks at @nswambulance and @tollambulancerescue,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you so very much for your swiftness, clarity, knowledge, compassion and dedication.
‘You saved him and we cannot thank you enough. Yes, it is a very Merry Christmas. THANK YOU‼️’
Nothing to see here: An elderly sunbather looks away while Galafassi and the woman embrace
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