Liz Hurley and Son Damian ‘Growing Distant’ as Star Spends More Time With Billy Ray Cyrus
Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian Hurley have long been one of Britain’s most famously close mother-and-son duos.
But insiders now say a little distance is finally appearing between the pair as Liz’s romance with American country star Billy Ray Cyrus continues to deepen.
According to friends close to the family, 23-year-old Damian Hurley—a successful model and budding filmmaker—has recently moved into his own apartment in Earl’s Court, West London.
The change came shortly after Liz, 60, reportedly fell “head over heels” for Billy Ray Cyrus, best known for his 1992 hit Achy Breaky Heart and as the father of pop icon Miley Cyrus.
For years, Liz and Damian seemed almost inseparable. Damian shot hundreds of glamorous photos for his mother’s swimwear line, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, and even cast her in his 2024 directorial debut, Strictly Confidential.
Their social-media posts often showed them traveling, dining, and working together.
But insiders now say that phase is evolving. “Liz and Damian are still best friends,” said one source, “but they aren’t joined at the hip anymore. They go out separately and have even butted heads on occasion.”
Those who know the family say the new space between them is healthy—and natural.
“Damian’s always been confident and ambitious thanks to Liz’s influence,” another friend added. “Now that he’s in his 20s and building his career, he’s ready to carve out his own path.”
While Damian steps into independence, Hurley has entered what friends describe as the “honeymoon phase” with Billy Ray Cyrus. The couple met in 2021 on the set of Christmas in Paradise and reconnected after Cyrus’s divorce from his ex-wife, Tish Cyrus, in 2022.
“Liz is very happy,” said a source. “She’s been spending lots of time with Billy Ray at his ranch in Tennessee, and they’ve also enjoyed quiet months together at her home in Herefordshire.”
The British actress recently confirmed that she and Billy Ray have been dating for nearly a year. “Billy Ray is fabulous. We’re very happy—very happy,” Hurley told The Daily Mail.
Their relationship became Instagram official over Easter, when Hurley posted a photo of the two embracing, signaling that the pair are ready to share their romance publicly.
Meeting the families
Hurley also revealed that Damian and Miley Cyrus have met, adding that the families get along well. “Billy’s kids are great, and he’s spent a lot of time with Damian. Everyone loves everyone—it’s lovely,” she said.
Billy Ray’s family history, however, has been turbulent. He shares five children with Tish Cyrus—Miley, Noah, Braison, Brandi, and Trace—and has had several high-profile relationships since their split.
His short-lived 2023 marriage to Australian singer Firerose ended in a bitter divorce earlier this year, with both sides accusing the other of emotional abuse.
Despite past challenges, Cyrus appears to be focusing on rebuilding his personal life. “Billy Ray is healthy, happy, and sober,” a family source insisted, adding that he has reconciled with daughter Miley and is now working toward a “blended family” with Hurley.
Although Liz’s romance may have shifted the family dynamic, Damian remains his mother’s biggest supporter.
When Hurley recently posted a photo of herself in an orange bikini captioned “Happy Tuesday”, Damian was the first to comment—with five red heart emojis.
Hurley also hinted that their professional collaboration isn’t over. “Damian and I are developing another film together, and even a TV pilot,” she revealed. “He writes all the time, and I’ve got one of his scripts on my iPad to read on my next flight.”
It seems that while Liz Hurley’s personal life evolves and her new love blossoms with Billy Ray Cyrus, her bond with Damian—though no longer as intense as before—remains strong at heart.
Both are simply embracing new chapters: Damian as a filmmaker finding his independence, and Liz as a woman rediscovering love across the Atlantic.