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Love Actually star dies as daughter reveals heartbreaking final words
Jill Freud, the actress who charmed audiences with her role as the Downing Street housekeeper in Love Actually, has died at the age of 98. The performer’s family confirmed the news with a moving statement reflecting her final moments and the vibrant life she led.
Freud, who was once the inspiration for Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, passed away after spending an evening surrounded by her children, grandchildren and pizza.
Her daughter, broadcaster Emma Freud, shared her mother’s candid final words, per Wales Online: “After a loving evening – where we knew she was on her way – surrounded by children, grandchildren and pizza, she told us all to f*** off so she could go to sleep. And then she never woke up. Her final words were 'I love you.'”
She inspired a classic literary character and built a life on stage
As a child, Jill was evacuated to Oxford where she lived with Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis, who later revealed that she had inspired the character of Lucy in his famous novel. “As a child she was evacuated to Oxford and ended up living with CS Lewis for three years... he based the character of Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe on her,” said Emma.
Jill later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, with her tuition paid by Lewis himself. She went on to become a respected actress and producer, running two repertory theatre companies in Suffolk for 30 years. In 1980, she launched her own company, Jill Freud and Company, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East Anglia “for services to the theatre.”
Her daughter recalled: “She became an actress/producer and ran two rep theatre companies in Suffolk for 30 years – employing 100's of actors who loved her for her passion, her care, her shepherd's pie, her devotion to regional theatre and her commitment to actor's rights.”
A life filled with family, wine and tap dancing
Jill’s personal life was just as full as her professional one. She married broadcaster and chef Clement Freud, grandson of Sigmund Freud, in 1950. Together, they had five children, and Jill eventually became a grandmother to 17 and great-grandmother to seven.
Known for her sharp wit and lively personality, Jill kept a quirky daily routine that included “a glass of red wine and a packet of crisps” for lunch. Even during the COVID lockdown at age 93, she kept up with morning tap classes. Emma recalled, “She had the same lunch every day – a glass of red wine and a packet of crisps, and during Covid, aged 93, locked up with 3 other Freud gals, she took part in a tap class every morning.”
“She was 98, mother of 5, grandmother of 17, great grandmother of 7 – she was feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous. Lucky old heaven getting such a dazzling newcomer,” Emma added.
Jill herself once said of her literary counterpart Lucy: “It's years since I read it, but in the stage version I saw a few years ago, Lucy was very likable - it was quite flattering.”