Patti Newton 'fighting for her son' Matthew to join family at Christmas and hopes to heal rift between the troubled actor and his sister Lauren

Patti Newton is working hard to reunite her son, Matthew Newton, with his sister, Lauren, according to a new report. 

On Monday, Woman's Day claimed that the troubled actor, who lives in the USA, is largely estranged from his family back in Australia and Patti, 79, is 'fighting for her son' to rejoin the fold in time for Christmas. 

'I know Patti does try to maintain contact with Matthew but she doesn't always hear back from him,' an alleged source told the publication. 

'It is sad that she has come to terms with this level of contact.' 

Part of the issue is an ongoing rift between Matthew, 47, and his sister, the magazine alleges. 

'I would say there wouldn't be much communication, if any at all, between the Newton siblings,' the source claims, alleging some 'jealousy' at play. 

'I know she's been through hell and back with him and her close circle have repeatedly told her to give him space, but that's easier said than done when a mother worries about her child,' the source said of Patti. 

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Patti Newtown for comment. 

Woman's Day previously claimed that Patti was committed to having her son return to Melbourne for a reunion after years away from home and a series of scandals.

Matthew hasn't been home to Australia in years and didn't return for his father's funeral in 2021.

He has been enjoying a quiet and anonymous life in America following a series of scandals.

This includes domestic violence allegations from two former girlfriends: Australian actresses Brooke Satchwell and Rachael Taylor.

In 2007, he pleaded guilty to assaulting Satchwell. A judge would later overturn the conviction because Matthew suffered from a 'severe depressive disorder.'

Three years later, Matthew was given a two-year apprehended domestic violence order after Taylor reported he had assaulted her at a hotel in Rome. 

He was also arrested twice in Miami, Florida, in 2012 - the first for trespassing and resisting officers, while a second incident saw him charged with battery and resisting arrest after he attacked a hotel receptionist.

Following the charges, Matthew checked into the Betty Ford Center in California for 90 days of alcohol and drug treatment.  

Earlier this year, Matthew denied his marriage to Catherine Schneiderman is over following reports he has moved out of the Texas ranch the couple were sharing and returned to New York where their first met in 2012.

Woman's Day claimed the couple parted ways after 'a rough couple of years'.

'Matty has had some huge obstacles thrown at him over the last 24 months and the stress simply took its toll on their relationship,' a source told the publication.

'Cat and Matthew had looked for a fresh start in Texas a few years back, but sadly it didn't help.'

The publication also claimed his mother Patti is 'concerned' about Matt and is considering flying to the States to help him settle in New York. 

They allege Matthew reached out to his mother when his marriage broke down, and Patti 'dropped everything' to help him from afar. 

When contacted for comment, Matthew denied he and Catherine had split.

Catherine, who is the daughter of former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, still appears to be living in Texas and has sparked up a friendship  with a local man called Troy Evans.

Evans even has had her name tattooed on his arm. 

Instagram photos uploaded by Catherine in March show the brunette posing arm-in-arm with a heavily tattooed Troy as they attended a Texas rodeo. 

She also shared a photo of the pair posing together on a farm while wearing cowboy hats in December 2023, captioned with the words: 'Giddy Up'. 

The brunette also appears to have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months, debuting a noticeably slimmer frame. 

Catherine ignited speculation there was trouble in paradise after she recently shared a selfie to Instagram in which she was not wearing her wedding ring.

The photo captured Catherine holding up her phone with her left hand, and her diamond wedding ring was nowhere to be seen.

Catherine captioned the gallery of snaps with some cryptic words: 'Just like life to come teach me a lesson.' 

Matthew and Catherine married in 2017 and were previously said to be living a quiet life together in a mansion in Texas, USA.