ITV Grace star John Simms' stunning co-star wife, rarely-seen kids and very famous ex
Grace is back on ITV as John Simm returns for season five, but what do we know about his private life?
John Simm, the star of the popular detective series Grace, is once again gracing our screens as DI Roy Grace. Despite being a well-known face on television with roles in Life on Mars and Doctor Who, John tends to keep his personal life under wraps. However, being married to a successful actress means he can't completely avoid the limelight. John's wife is actress Kate McGowan, known for her roles in EastEnders and Silent Witness. The couple share two children, Ryan, born in 2001, and Mollie, born in 2007. Kate began her acting career after graduating from drama school in Swindon, landing her first screen role in the Sky football soap Dream Team in 1988.
The details of when and where the couple first met remain unconfirmed, but they first appeared together on screen in the 2001 drama Is Harry On The Boat?, reports OK!. They tied the knot in May 2004 in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Over the years, the couple have frequently worked together, appearing in 24 Hour Party People (2002), Devilwood (2006) and Tuesday (2008), as well as the BBC series Exile in 2011.
In 2013, Kate gained recognition in the soap world with her role in EastEnders as beauty salon owner Sadie Young. Her character was married to alcoholic Jake Stone, played by Hollyoaks' Jamie Lomas, and she left the show after discovering Jake's affair with Lauren Branning, portrayed by Jaqueline Jossa.
In a moving post during the height of Covid pandemic restrictions, she shared their life-changing decision online: "Goodbye London, it's been memorable. Hello BRIGHTON!" With Grace now being filmed in Brighton, John has seamlessly blended his work and personal life in the vibrant coastal city.
The power couple, John and Kate, usually keep their cards close to their chest regarding their relationship, but in a rare candid chat with The Guardian back in 2019, John drew parallels between his love life and his theatrical role in Macbeth. "Only in the fact that he worships her, and she is the glue that holds everything together," he revealed about his real-life leading lady.
Yet before finding lasting love with Kate, John briefly courted fame in another sense through a fleeting liaison with pop sensation Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls. Reflecting on that whirlwind romance, John expressed a philosophical view, stating it would be "something to tell the grandchildren."
