The secret sadness behind Rufus Sewell’s engagement: How the actor’s proposal to his 30-year younger fiancée Vivian Benitez came at a ‘bittersweet’ moment – after her father was diagnosed with a brain tumour

Rufus Sewell’s engagement to his fiancée was a bittersweet moment for his future bride as her father was diagnosed with a brain tumour just weeks before the star’s romantic proposal.

The Holiday actor, 56, asked former model booker Vivian Benitez, 27, who’s 29 years his junior, to marry him in Rome this week, popping the question with a sparkling diamond ring.

But the couple’s commitment to wed comes amid a troubling time for Vivian and her family as her dad suffered multiple seizures, a stroke, heart attack and a burst bowel in November, and was later diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour.

Vivian has explained that it’s unlikely her dad will survive but hoped he could ‘beat the odds’ while paying tribute to the ‘funniest, most lovingly offensive, sensitive, beautiful man you’ll ever meet.’

And Rufus, also famed for starring in Netflix series The Diplomat and ITV drama Victoria, will have helped to console his long-term girlfriend through the trauma, with Vivian often referring to him as her ‘best friend’ and ‘love of her life.’

Rufus Sewell’s engagement to his fiancée was a bittersweet moment for his future bride as her father was diagnosed with a brain tumour just weeks before the star’s romantic proposal

The Holiday actor asked former model booker Vivian Benitez to marry him in Rome this week, popping the question with a sparkling diamond ring

The couple’s commitment to wed comes amid a troubling time for Vivian and her family as her dad (pictured) suffered multiple seizures, a stroke, heart attack and a burst bowel in November, and was later diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour

Vivian has spoken about the importance of family after reflecting on how her mother (pictured far left) struggled to put food on the table for her and older sister Emma (centre)

Vivian often shares with her fanbase the importance of family, reflecting on her difficult childhood and mother’s struggle to put food on the table for her and older sister Emma.

Her parents were born in Cuba and moved to the United States in 1980, with Vivian saying her Hispanic heritage has made it harder to land roles in Hollywood.

After moving into her first home last year, Vivian said: ‘I grew up with my mother breaking her back and struggling to put food on the table for the better part of my life.

‘I live in fear of losing my security like most kids that grew up the way I did probably do. But now, for the first time, it feels like I’ll always have a roof over my head. It’s a really nice feeling.’

She moved to glamorous Miami in 2014 to work for model agency Wilhelmina, where she became a partygoer on the Hollywood scene and regular at celebrity hotspots Chateau Marmont, Soho Beach House and 1 Oak nightclub.

While trying to crack the film and television industry, she socialised with the beautiful models she worked with before landing a role in Paramount+ show Criminal Minds and 2021 short film Sky Dancers Grown Up.

Vivian has spoken about the difficulties of being cast on shows, writing on Instagram: ‘I spent most of my life trying to hide the fact that I am Hispanic just to be liberated by mainstream media and then told by white casting directors I’m not Hispanic looking enough.’

Indeed, her image has changed over the years, with Vivian admitting that she went from dying her hair bleach blonde and having two gold teeth to a demurer appearance, which likely attracted Rufus, who she started dating in 2019.

Vivian’s parents were born in Cuba and they moved to the United States in 1980, with the actress saying her Hispanic heritage has made it harder to land roles in Hollywood

Rufus started dated Vivian in early 2019 and the couple marked their one-year anniversary by sharing a sunset image of them hugging each other on the beach 

The model agent regularly shares updates on the couple’s relationship, calling Rufus the ‘love of her life’ and ‘best friend’ 

She announced their engagement on Tuesday with a photograph showing her sparkling ring following the couple’s romantic break in Rome

Alongside a photo of Vivian showcasing her natural brunette hair, she wrote: ‘Seven years ago I had cornrows, two gold teeth, and would text people things like ‘what it do’ happy to say I would’ve surely puked at current coastal-grandma-me shot.’

Rufus started dated Vivian in early 2019 and the couple marked their one-year anniversary by sharing a sunset image of them hugging each other on the beach.

Vivian wrote: ‘One year of being in love has really taken my personality hostage. Pray for its safe return.’

It appears that Rufus first wooed his younger girlfriend, who is reportedly 29 years his junior, by taking her to picturesque Wales, with the couple spending many romantic breaks together exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast. 

Rufus has been married on two other occasions, his first wife was Australian fashion journalist Yasmin Abdallah, and they were together for a year before getting divorced.

His second marriage to producer Amy Gardner lasted from 2004-2006. The exes share a son William, who is now 21 years old.

The actor also has a daughter Lola, who was born in 2013, with former partner, writer Ami Komai.

Rufus previously said of his love life in an interview with the Mail: ‘It’s always been important to be in a relationship when I’m in one, but I don’t actively look for one.

Vivian moved to glamorous Miami in 2014 to work for model agency Wilhelmina, where she became a partygoer on the Hollywood scene and regular at celebrity hotspots Chateau Marmont, Soho Beach House and 1 Oak nightclub 

While trying to crack the film and TV industry, she socialised with the beautiful models she worked with before landing a role in Paramount+ show Criminal Minds and 2021 short film Sky Dancers Grown Up 

The star’s image has changed over the years, with Vivian admitting that she went from dying her hair bleach blonde and having two gold teeth to a demurer appearance (pictured in 2017)

‘I’ve gone through long times without being with someone, but that’s not happened for a while.’

He is best known for his role in romcom The Holiday starring in the movie alongside Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, and Jack Black. 

His character Jasper left Kate Winslet’s Iris, who was in love with him, heartbroken by announcing his engagement to another woman at Christmas.

Rufus has been cast as Prince Andrew in the upcoming Netflix drama Scoop, which tells the story behind the royal’s bombshell BBC interview with Newsnight reporter Emily Maitlis.

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