Martine McCutcheon feeling 'stronger' after marriage split as she shows off 'glow up'
Martine McCutcheon was dealt a heavy blow this summer, when she revealed her husband of 12 years, Jack McManus, had called time on their near two-decade relationship. But returning to social media with a stunning selfie last week, the actress appeared brighter than ever, and a source has told OK! that this is the beginning of a whole new chapter for her.
"Martine is feeling stronger than ever at the moment, she's worked hard to move past the split. It was a really tough time for her, but she's out the other side now," claimed the source.
The former EastEnders star , 48, known for her starring in box office hits such as festive favourite Love Actually, announced her split from husband Jack back in August, after 18 years together. Sharing a statement to her Instagram account at the time, Martine wrote: “After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it's best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision.
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“We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, 9-year-old son Rafferty, whose happiness and welfare, has always been, and will continue to be, our number 1 priority."
Martine continued that the couple would still ‘cherish’ being parents together as they navigated a new way forward. She concluded: 'Our love for Rafferty, is something that will never, waver, or change and we obviously want to protect him and help him feel as safe and secure as possible.”
Martine and Jack tied the knot back in 2012 with a stunning wedding in Italy's Lake Como, and appeared the perfect match. After Martine sharing loved-up snaps together just weeks before they went public over their split, fans were shocked over the separation.
And despite making it clear that the split wasn’t her decision, Martine appears to have come out the other side feeling - and looking, better than ever.
Explaining that step by step, Martine is moving through the heartbreak, the source said, "She has moved past the split and her mojo is coming back, she's not all the way there yet but she is feeling and looking the best she has in a long time.
"To begin with, Martine was hiding away a little bit but now she wants to get back out there, she's getting her career back on track and is enjoying quality time with her son. She has remembered she's got a life to live now."
Taking to Instagram weeks after her marriage breakdown, Martine alluded to Jack’s decision being a necessary one, as she wrote: “I didn't have the year I wanted, I had the year I needed. I grew so much this year and for that I am grateful."
Since then, Martine has been sharing a myriad of smiley posts with her 'little bestie' Rafferty as she enjoys quality time with the adorable 9 year old, and their nearest and dearest.
"Martine has got incredible support," began the source of her network. "And they're actually saying, 'Don't forget who you are! You did my fair lady, you did a film with Hugh Grant, don't forget how big you were'. They are reminding her who she is - because she did forget and had lost her confidence for a while," they continued.
Not only is Martine feeling stronger within herself, it seems her personal growth has given her the motivation to boost her career too - as the star has made an iconic return to her pop career. Martine previously topped the charts with her debut 1999 hit Perfect Moment, but hasn’t been on the music scene in recent years.
However, fans were delighted recently when Martine made a comeback by singing a hilarious remix of the classic 90s track Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit by Gina G, as part of an advert for supermarket chain Lidl, which saw Martine looking sensational in a sequinned jumpsuit while belting out the classic and showing off some serious dance moves.
With a glamorous new chapter ahead, comes a new look for Martine, who shared a selfie to Instagram last week with a glowing grin and looking fresh-faced after what she said was some 'skin work' at a luxury aesthetics clinic.
And claiming that she has indeed gone for a post-breakup 'glow-up', the source explained, "Martine is looking amazing at the moment, she got new teeth over the summer and they look great. She wants to look her best and radiant - she doesn't want people seeing her as down in the dumps."
They added that she's not given up on love, either: "She is keen to meet someone else when the time is right and to look good for this new chapter."
