Personal life James Nesbitt

nesbitt , 5 minutes of heaven co-star liam neeson @ closing of belfast lyric in january 2008.

nesbitt married sonia forbes-adam, daughter of reverend sir timothy forbes adam. 2 met when nesbitt went final call-back hamlet @ loughborough hall in 1989, , began dating. split year after release of hear song reunited , married in 1994. have since had 2 daughters, peggy , mary (both of whom appeared in final 2 hobbit movies daughters of bard bowman). nesbitt s 3 sisters became teachers. in 2002, sunday tabloid published interview legal secretary claimed have had two-month affair nesbitt. shortly afterwards, tabloid story revealed affair prostitute, claimed nesbitt had boasted of liaisons cold feet co-star kimberley joseph, , amanda brunker, former miss ireland. commenting on publication of details personal life, nesbitt has said feared lose marriage, though exposing of dual life allowed him take long , considered @ himself. in october 2013, nesbitt announced , wife sonia forbes-adam separate each other after 19 years. couple says filming of hobbit trilogy has forced couple live separately past 2 years. split came mutual decision , couple says infidelity not 1 of reasons decision. proud father of bucs 10,000m women s record holder jenny nesbitt.

nesbitt patron of wave, charity set support traumatised troubles. charity faced closure due funding problems before nesbitt encouraged celebrities , artists become involved. since 2005, has been unicef uk ambassador, working hiv , aids sufferers, , former child soldiers in africa. describes role privilege . writing in independent visit zambia in 2006, nesbitt concluded children met owed social , moral responsibility. article described in evening standard moving , notably well-crafted . since 1999, has been patron of action cancer, result of both father s affliction prostate cancer , storyline in second series of cold feet, character suffered testicular cancer. has been honorary patron of youth lyric, 1 of ireland s largest theatre schools, since 2007.

he fan of football teams coleraine, rangers f.c. , manchester united , supports northern irish national team. in 2003, nesbitt made donation of thousands of pounds coleraine, after team came close bankruptcy. has called team heartbeat of coleraine , encouraged more people watch irish league football. nesbitt vocal opponent of malcolm glazer s 2005 takeover of manchester united, though after completion of deal acted in television advertisements promoting executive boxes @ old trafford, criticised fans. counter criticism, pledged 1 half of £10,000 fee manchester united supporters trust , other half unicef.

nesbitt co-owner of national hunt racehorse riverside theatre , named after theatre of university of ulster in coleraine, won ryanair chase @ 2012 cheltenham festival.

in march 2010, nesbitt accepted ceremonial position of chancellor of university of ulster, succeeding former lord mayor of london sir richard nichols. gerry mallon, then-chair of university ruling council, expected nesbitt bring considerable energy, dynamism , commitment post. following official installation on 8 june 2010, nesbitt said, rather being informal role officiating @ ceremonies, think can act ambassador. have access awful lot of people , places because of work. hope voice can heard, not @ university, outside promoting importance of funding of education. if involves me being @ stormont, d happy that. these public spending cuts going have impact , s important fight funding because s investing in students , investing in future of northern ireland. believe can bring that, otherwise wouldn t have taken on.

he appointed officer of order of british empire (obe) in 2016 new year honours services drama , community in northern ireland.