Actress Sally Phillips has spoken about her anxieties regarding her divorce nine years ago, particularly her fear of being "on my own with three children." Phillips, known for her roles in the "Bridget Jones" films and "Smack the Pony," separated from her husband of 14 years, Andrew Bermejo, in 2017.
The couple now co-parent their three sons: Luke, 17; Tom, 14; and Olly, who is in his early twenties and has Down's syndrome. Phillips admitted that she resisted acknowledging the end of her marriage due to her fear.
"I wouldn't talk about the possibility of it ending, so we could never actually talk about what was wrong," Phillips told The Mirror, as reported by the Daily Mail. "I'd just shut down the conversation. I'd only talk about positive things we could do, like courses we could go on."
She realized the marriage was untenable when she felt they made each other feel "awful just by being me" and "awful just by being him," concluding that "to continue in that was not successful."
Phillips' primary concern was the impact of divorce on her then-young children. "I was so frightened of the marriage ending and me being on my own with one, two, three children," she stated. "And I was so sure that I couldn't manage that. Turns out I can."
She now views divorce not always as a failure and cherishes her "life force."
Following her divorce, Phillips found a new relationship with former Army Captain Ian Pilcher. They met on a blind date in 2019 and now reside together in West London, also co-owning a catering business. Phillips described him in a 2023 interview as "to die for" and shared an anecdote about their first kiss.
Phillips' acting career includes starring in all three "Bridget Jones" films and the sketch show "Smack the Pony." She also portrayed Tilly in "Miranda." Her recent work includes the BBC One crime drama "The Hairdresser Mysteries," where she plays Lily Petal, a salon owner who becomes an amateur sleuth.