Jeremy Irons seen on a rare public outing with wife Sinead Cusack

By Lucy Buckland

Published: 11:35 EDT, 12 March 2013 | Updated: 04:04 EDT, 13 March 2013

Jeremy Irons courted controversy when he famously revealed a man touching a woman was nothing more than 'friendly communication'.

The 64-year-old star may have been reminded of his comments before attending the high brow South Bank Sky Arts Awards on Tuesday in London with his wife Sinead Cusack - although the pair are believed to have an open marriage.

It is a rare outing for the thespian couple, who have two grown up sons and have been married for 34 years - Jeremy is more used to being snapped with other ladies from the theatre world.

Closer than ever: Jeremy and wife Sinead Cusack pose up at the The 2013 South Bank Sky Arts Awards at The Dorchester in central London

The actor has previously described his relationship with his wife as ‘dysfunctional’ and claimed that ‘part of our nature is to have as many partners as possible’.

He admitted: ‘Sinead and I have had difficult times. Every marriage does because people are impossible. I’m impossible, my wife’s impossible, life’s impossible.’

He also once said: ‘No marriage is what it seems. I will say that it is very difficult to be everything to one person.’

Still happily married: James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff were also at the star-studded awards

Demure: Emilia Fox looked stunning in the bright number

Asked about his marriage in his latest interview this week, Mr Irons would only say: ‘It goes on.’

He has been spotted in the company of much younger women on several occasions.

In 2001, he was seen kissing French actress Patricia Kaas outside London’s Chinawhite nightclub.

In 2009, he was seen in a ‘prolonged clinch’ with an assistant stage manager less than half his age.

Stunning : Jo Wiley looked glamorous in her long black dress

The following year, Spanish actress Loles León successfully sued a five-star hotel for £39,000 after breaking her wrist and pelvis falling down steps in the actor’s luxury suite.

Mr Irons, who played a man obsessed with an young girl in 1997’s film adaptation of Lolita, appeared to court further controversy by suggesting underage girls who have sex with older men should not be ‘encouraged’ to think they are victims of sexual abuse.

He said an acquaintance told him of an affair she had with a much older man when she was 13 before he started filming the movie, adding: ‘There was sex involved. She said: “By the time I was 16 or 17, it petered out — it’s never affected me at all.”

Actress Julie Walters was honoured with an outstanding achievement award to recognise a career spanning almost four decades.

The 63-year-old, whose varied roles included Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films and a moving portrayal of the late Mo Mowlam, took the title at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

Other winners at the highly regarded event included the Olympic cauldron which was given the visual arts award, while BBC2's spoof series about preparations for last summer's sporting spectacle, Twenty Twelve, was named best comedy.

Actor Tom Hiddleston, whose high-profile performances have included roles in War Horse and Avengers Assemble, playing villain Loki, took the breakthrough award.

Latest James Bond movie Skyfall, the most successful movie at the UK box office, took the best film prize.

In a further triumph for BBC2, the adaptation of Parade's End, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, took the TV drama prize, and author Hilary Mantel added to her swelling awards haul with the prize for literature.

Lord Bragg said: '2012 was a truly extraordinary year for this country, not only in sporting endeavours but across the arts.

'This list of most deserving winners is testament to the richness of artistic talent we have at work today and I am delighted that we able to celebrate and honour them as they deserve.'