Actress and producer Jill Freud has died at the age of 98.
The family of the beloved star remembered her as spirited, bold, kind, affectionate, and playful. As a child, she was the inspiration for the character Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and she went on to have a thriving 30-year career in the arts.
Emma Freud, Jill’s daughter and a well-known broadcaster, announced the passing of her mother, aged 98, with a heartfelt message: ‘My beautiful 98 year old mum has taken her final bow.’
She spent a warm evening surrounded by family, enjoying pizza and the company of her children and grandchildren. Knowing her time was near, she playfully told everyone to leave her alone so she could rest. Sadly, she passed away peacefully in her sleep, and her last words were a sweet ‘I love you’.
When she was a child during the war, she was sent to live in Oxford and spent three years with C.S. Lewis. He used her as the inspiration for the character of Lucy in ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’.
Jill’s final movie role was in Emma’s partner Richard Curtis’ movie Love Actually, Emma recalled.
For three decades, she was a dedicated force in regional theatre, both as an actress, producer, and the leader of two theatre companies in Suffolk. She was beloved by the hundreds of actors she employed, known for her enthusiasm, kindness, delicious shepherd’s pie, and unwavering support for both the art form and the rights of performers. Her final on-screen appearance was a memorable role as the housekeeper in the film ‘Love Actually’.
Every day, she ate a simple lunch of red wine and crisps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, even at 93 years old and confined with three other women who also studied Freud, she made sure to attend a tap dancing class each morning.
Jill Freud, age 98, was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother – a family matriarch with 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. She was known for her spirited personality, a touch of rebelliousness, and a whole lot of love and kindness. Heaven is lucky to have her!
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2025-11-24 13:03