Guy Pearce is opening up about his love life. In a recent interview published on Saturday, January 18, the 57-year-old The Brutalist star revealed that someone from his past holds the title of “the greatest love” of his life.
“My ex-wife, Kate [Mestitz], was the greatest love of my life,” Pearce admitted, referring to the Australian psychologist he was married to for 18 years before their separation in 2015.
“But I’ve moved on from her now, and the greatest love of my life is my child, Monte,” he continued, mentioning his son, whom he welcomed with his girlfriend, Game of Thrones star Carice van Houten, in 2020.
Pearce also shared that his relationship with Mestitz was central to what he described as his “greatest disappointment.” “I felt like I messed up my marriage,” he explained. “I don’t feel that way anymore, but at the time I was devastated.”
The actor and Mestitz met in 1980 while both were students at Geelong College in Australia, and they married in 1997. They kept their relationship largely private, living in Australia while Pearce’s career blossomed.
By January 2015, Pearce publicly announced their decision to separate in a statement, “Kate and I will always love and support one another and be the best of friends,” he shared.
“No one knows me like Kate does, and we’ll forever be appreciative of our mutual respect,” Pearce continued. “We’ve both grown enormously through our relationship, but sadly, the time has come to part ways.”
Despite their separation, Pearce posted at the time that the couple “couldn’t be closer” and would “love each other 4 ever.”
Since then, Pearce has found happiness with van Houten, 48. The couple, along with their son Monte, now live in Amsterdam, as reported by House Beautiful.
Pearce, who is also a musician, previously reflected on the transformative experience of fatherhood in an interview.
“After Monte was born, someone said to me, ‘You realize you’re now living with your heart on the outside?’ And it really is true, isn’t it?” Pearce shared.
“When I started acting, I knew if I needed to cry that it could come out easily,” he continued. “Then after 15 years of therapy, I became a far calmer and more satisfied human being, but trying to cry in a scene became impossible. Since having my boy though, I cry at the drop of a hat again.”