Rhona Gemmell is famous as the ex-wife of actor Robbie Coltrane. Born Anthony Robert McMillan, Gemmell’s ex-husband, gained worldwide recognition in the 2000s for playing Rubeus Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” film series. Consequently, Coltrane received the Evening Standard British Film Award – Peter Sellers Award for Comedy in 1990.
Afterward, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Coltrane an OBE for his services to drama at the 2006 New Year Honors. In addition, the British Academy Scotland Awards also honored him for his “outstanding contribution” to film in 2011. Rhona Gemmell and Coltrane dated for over a decade before tying the knot in the late 1990s, with Gemmell becoming the actor’s first wife.
However, the couple separated a few years into their marriage and kept the details of their divorce private. Although the actor found love again before his tragic death in 2022, his death has made many curious about the identity of his first wife. Fans of the talented actor are interested in who Coltrane’s first wife is, her life, career, her marriage to the late actor, and their kids.
Here’s everything we know.
Who Is Robbie Coltrane’s Ex-Wife?
Due to her cagey lifestyle, Rhona Gemmell’s exact date of birth and birthplace remains unknown. However, reports suggest she is in her 60s. Aside from her age, details about her parents and upbringing also elude the media.
Despite being a former celebrity spouse, Gemmell keeps details about her early life away from the public. Nonetheless, online reports suggest she holds British nationality and belongs to a mixed ethnicity. In addition, there are no details regarding her early interests and life before her marriage to the late Scottish actor.
On the other hand, Robbie Coltrane was born to Jean Ross Howie, a teacher and pianist, and Lan Baxter McMillian, a forensic police surgeon, on March 30, 1950. Coltrane was keenly interested in music, film, and cars and enjoyed reading from a young age. In addition, Gemmell’s ex-husband grew up with his sisters, Annie and Jane.
The late actor started his career on stage at 12, performing in “Henry V” at Glenalmond College. Afterward, Coltrane studied at Glasgow Art School, majoring in painting, drawing, and film before enrolling at Moray House College of Education, where he studied art.
What Does Rhona Gemmell Do for a Living?
Like most of her life, details about Rhona Gemmell’s career also elude the media. On the other hand, her famous ex-husband made a name for himself in the film industry before his tragic death. The late actor’s first onscreen project was a documentary titled “Young Mental Health.”
The Scottish Education Council voted it the Film Of The Year. Afterward, Coltrane began doing stand-up comedy, a career in which he soared before making his TV debut in 1979. Gemmell’s first husband landed a brief role as Jimmy in the British comedy series “Plan for Today.”
Following his debut, Coltrane continued landing small and leading roles in TV shows and movies throughout the 1980s. He even starred in a 1989 film adaptation of “Henry V,” playing Sir John Falstaff. Although he appeared in several films throughout the 1990s, he didn’t get his breakthrough until he landed a role in the “Harry Potter” film.
Coltrane appeared as Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” franchise alongside movie stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, and Maggie Smith. Although he took on other projects throughout its run, the franchise became his staple.
How Did Rhona Gemmell and Robbie Coltrane Meet?
Rhona Gemmell and Robbie Coltrane first encountered each other at a bar on 1988’s Christmas Eve. According to reports, the actor had just ended a 15-year romantic relationship and was left reeling after his former beau rejected his marriage proposal.
However, Gemmell, on the other hand, was still studying at Glasgow School of Art and living with her mother. It was love at first sight for the couple, and they hit it off.
Although there are no details regarding when the two started dating, the lovebirds welcomed their first child four years into their relationship. Gemmell and Coltrane had their son, Spencer, in 1992. Afterward, the former couple welcomed their second child, a daughter, Alice, in 1998.
After dating for over ten years, the then-couple tied the knot the following year. Rhona Gemmell and Coltrane married at a register office in December 1999 and lived quietly in a village near Glasgow.
When Did Robbie Coltrane and His Ex-Wife Divorce?
Rhona Gemmell and the late actor divorced amicably in 2003. In an interview, a friend of the former lovers revealed, “They are apart, and it’s sad. It’s hard for everyone at the moment, but things couldn’t go on the way they were.” Despite the buzz surrounding their divorce, the couple didn’t reveal the reasons for their divorce.
However, online reports suggest that the age difference between the couple and Coltrane’s constant traveling due to work contributed to their split. After their breakup, Rhona Gemmell left with their two young children and two dogs.
Where Is Robbie Coltrane’s Ex-Wife Now?
After their divorce, Rhona Gemmell opted for a private life. Like actor Alfonso Ribeiro’s first wife, Robin Stapler, she lives away from the limelight. Hence, there are no details regarding her whereabouts. On the other hand, Coltrane got into a relationship with another woman.
The actor revealed in a September 2020 interview that the romance had lasted 12 years. However, there are no details regarding the identity of his lover. Sadly, the “Harry Potter” star passed away in 2022 after battling osteoarthritis, a medical condition that severely affected his mobility and kept him in constant pain.
