Articles
Sunday Mirror (London, England); 2/20/2005
EXCLUSIVE By GILL SMITH
MONARCH of the Glen beauty Simone Lahbib is pregnant with her first child.
The sultry Scots actress and her Italian actor husband Raffaello Degruttola are set to become parents in September. They have been trying for a family for some time.
Yesterday Simone, 39, who plays feisty farmer Isobel Anderson in the hit BBC1 series, said: "We're absolutely delighted."
She is planning to fly to Los Angeles to join her husband who is filming there.
Her
happy news has thrown up an unexpected problem for Monarch of the
Glen bosses.
Filming for the next and final series is due to begin next month.
Now
film schedules and storylines are being frantically rewritten around
Simone's pregnancy.
A source said: "Obviously some things will have to change - but
it's a nice problem to have. Everyone is delighted for her."
Former
Bad Girls actress Simone has often talked about her desire to start
a family with handsome Raffaello, 34.
She said recently: "If we're blessed with children, that would
be great. Of course, we need to spend some time together first!"
The pair, who met when Simone was in the ITV drama Thief Takers, often spend long periods apart with Simone filming in the Highlands while Saving Private Ryan star Raffaello spends time abroad.
They wed in May 2003 in a romantic ceremony in the shadow of Stirling Castle after an eight-year romance. More than 150 guests, including The Bill star George Rossi, watched them exchange their vows in the service at the picturesque St Mary's Church, before enjoying a lavish champagne reception at the nearby Stirling Highland Hotel.
Simone, from Stirling, revealed that spending time apart from her hunky husband spices up their love life. She said: "Every time we meet it's like another honeymoon.
"We are proof that long-distance relationships do work - you've just got to make that extra special effort."
Simone runsup huge phone bills to stay in touch with Raffaello when she is filming Monarch in the Highlands.
COPYRIGHT 2005 MGN LTD