Lipman finds new 'soulmate'

ACTRESS Maureen Lipman has found a new "soulmate" since the death of husband Jack Rosenthal.

The 63-year-old star of ITV's Ladies Of Letters has been seeing businessman Guido Castro for a number of months. She said: "I am totally sorted. I'm very happy with my gentleman friend.

"And I am also grateful to have met two soulmates in one life."

Lipman was married to TV writer Rosenthal – whose work included plays such as Bar Mitzvah Boy, comedy series The Lovers and the screenplay for Barbra Streisand film Yentl – for 30 years until his death from cancer in 2004.

The stage and screen star said yesterday that she still talks about her late husband every day.

Lipman realised she was fortunate to have found a good match again at her stage in life.

"Sometimes I think these things are out of our control and are ordained from a storyline somewhere," she said. "But I don't question it. As long as it's good, it's got to be better than facing life alone."

Lipman – remembered for her role in 70s comedy series Agony – said she had not expected to become close to anyone again.

She said: "At this age, it's very different and there are some people who will just never be interested again."