Move over, Marco

The paparazzi were out in force at the postpremiere party last week for Jack Nicholson's new film, About Schmidt. But despite the presence of glamorous London party girls Jemma Kidd, Camilla Rutherford and Leah Wood, it was model Lisa Butcher who set the bulbs popping. The 6ft blonde former wife of Marco Pierre White officially "came out" on the arm of the new love of her life, Irish-born actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. And they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Until recently, Lisa, 31, had tried hard never to be photographed with a new man, given that she'd managed to be married (and divorced) twice by her mid-twenties.

So when we meet, she is still trying to be discreet about her new relationship with the actor who made his name in Velvet Goldmine, merely revealing that they had just got back from a "blissfully happy" 10 days in the Bahamas.

They first met during "an amazing weekend" at a French chateau last summer. Lisa had been invited by a champagne company to an Oscar Wilde dinner. She was seated next to Rhys Meyers and they immediately started talking. That was last summer and they have been an item ever since.

"I hadn't seen any of his films, so it wasn't as though I were a fan," she says. "After we met, I got all his films out on video and he's really rather good. He's an incredibly generous and warm-hearted person. He also has this incredibly sexy Irish accent."

At first glance they seem an odd couple. He is 25, from a workingclass Irish background, brought up in County Cork. His father walked out when Jonathan was two; by 16 he was expelled from school and spent his time hanging out in pool halls, where he was discovered by a casting agent.

Lisa admits she had a "wonderfully spoilt childhood" growing up in the Far East. Her father was a British American Tobacco executive, and Lisa enjoyed a luxurious expat lifestyle as well as boarding at a convent in the Shires. She now has a house in Chelsea and frequents celebrity canteens Nobu, Momo and Hakkasan, where she hangs out with friends such as Lisa B.

He, on the other hand, is famously down to earth, preferring to avoid glitzy parties. He is also a rising star of British cinema, whereas she is famous by association only.

That accusation, though, is set to change as she has been invited to be an ambassador for the Prince's Trust and has landed a prestigious contract as the face of Hardy Amies, couturier to the Queen. She shot their new campaign with rock star-turned-photographer Bryan Adams, and will appear on the catwalk when the house shows its collection next month.

The best thing about the job, though, is that she has been able to escape her blonde bimbo image. "It was incredibly liberating having my usual long blonde style tucked into a short, black wig. I behaved differently and acted more seriously. Because it's true that when you're blonde and a model, people do make the assumption that you must be stupid. Well, I like to prove people wrong."

Lisa certainly has experience of people making assumptions about her intellect. Even her first husband, Marco Pierre White, pronounced with characteristic indiscretion that she was a "thick snob". She has never, to her credit, criticised the famously volatile chef in public. Doubtless she was tempted.

Even on their wedding day he criticised her for her £3,000 Bruce Oldfield dress, which in his eyes was "too sexy". She was only 17 when she met the fiery Michelinstarred chef, who was then a rising star at Harvey's in Wandsworth, and within three months married him at the Brompton Oratory.

The marriage lasted 15 weeks. She gave the dress to charity and never commented on the fact that, within months of their separation, Marco's new girlfriend was expecting the couple's first child.

That was nearly 15 years ago, but the longer it has been, the more tight-lipped she has become. Won't she admit, at least, that some of Pierre White's star quality helped her in her career?

"I'd been working as a model since I was 15, after winning the Elle talent contest," she snaps. "I didn't need anyone to further my career, thank you. Look, it was such a terrible time and I still find it painful to speak about it. But only when it comes to my first husband." Suddenly she smiles: "I can talk lots about my second."

At 23, she met Gabriel Donoso, a Chilean polo player, at the Queen's Cup final at Windsor and was soon ensconced with him in South America. Although they had two gorgeous girls - Olivia, eight, and Amber, six - the marriage broke up before Amber's birth and Lisa returned to England. "He's a lovely man and, even though our marriage didn't work out, we have a good relationship. The marriage failed because I was so lonely, I had no friends and my husband was away a lot. Gabriel is over here for the polo season, so the girls see him often."

With two marriages behind her, and past boyfriends including polo champ Tarquin Southwell (now with Jodie Kidd) and actor Jeremy Northam, Lisa is not made for the single life.

Would she dare to marry again? She takes a deep breath: "I'd be terrified of doing it again. On the other hand, I definitely want more children, preferably boys. And, despite everything that's happened, I still believe in happy ever after."