Roger Moore: Four Marriages, Two Wives Who Refused to Let Go, and a $10 Million Exit
Two wives refused to let him go — one smashed his windows, the other held out for $10 million
Key Facts
What Happened
James Bond himself could not escape the complexities of divorce law. Roger Moore was married four times, and two of his divorces were defined by a common theme: spouses who refused to grant him a divorce. His second wife, singer Dorothy Squires, and his third wife, Italian actress Luisa Mattioli, both fought prolonged battles to prevent Moore from leaving — with dramatically different outcomes.
Moore married Squires in 1953 and left her in 1961 for Luisa Mattioli, whom he met while filming 'Romulus and the Sabines.' Squires refused to grant a divorce for seven years, during which Moore and Mattioli lived together and had two children out of wedlock. Squires sued Moore for 'loss of conjugal rights,' smashed the windows of the French home where Moore lived with Mattioli, and mounted various legal challenges. The divorce was finally granted in 1968, by which time Moore and Mattioli had been together for seven years.
History repeated itself with Mattioli. Moore and Mattioli married in 1969 and had three children together. The marriage lasted until 1993, when Moore began a relationship with Danish-Swedish socialite Kristina 'Kiki' Tholstrup. Despite the separation, Mattioli refused to grant a divorce for seven years — the exact same duration as Squires's refusal. She finally agreed in 2000, reportedly in exchange for a settlement of approximately $10 million.
Moore married Tholstrup in 2002, and the marriage lasted until his death in 2017. He later reflected that he did not wish to hurt his children by 'engaging in a war of words' about his divorces. His children briefly stopped speaking to him after the Mattioli divorce but eventually reconciled. The Moore saga illustrates a now-obsolete legal reality: before no-fault divorce became universal, a spouse who refused to consent could block a divorce for years.
Legal Breakdown: When a Spouse Refuses to Divorce
The Era Before No-Fault Divorce
When Moore divorced Squires in the 1960s, English law required proof of a matrimonial offense (adultery, cruelty, or desertion) or mutual consent. A spouse who refused to consent could block divorce proceedings for years. The Divorce Reform Act 1969 introduced no-fault divorce after five years of separation, eliminating this veto power.
Financial Incentives to Withhold Consent
Mattioli's seven-year refusal to divorce was a negotiating strategy. By withholding consent, she increased her leverage for a larger settlement. Moore's desire to marry Tholstrup gave Mattioli a powerful bargaining chip — he was essentially paying $10 million for the ability to remarry.
Children Caught Between Divorcing Parents
Moore's children temporarily estranged themselves from their father after the Mattioli divorce. This is common in contested divorces where one parent is perceived as the 'leaver.' Family therapists note that children often side with the parent they perceive as more hurt, regardless of the underlying circumstances.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Modern no-fault divorce laws exist precisely because of cases like Moore's — no one should be trapped in a marriage against their will.
- →A spouse who refuses to consent to divorce is often using delay as a financial negotiating tactic.
- →Children often align with the parent they perceive as more hurt — be aware of this dynamic and work to maintain all family relationships.
- →The desire to remarry gives your current spouse enormous leverage — factor this into your timeline and settlement expectations.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.