Kate Beckinsale says she is ‘still trying to outrun’ her grief as she pays moving tribute to her beloved stepfather Roy Battersby two years after his death

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Kate Beckinsale recently posted a heartfelt message remembering her late stepfather, Roy Battersby, marking two years since his passing.

The television director suffered a severe stroke in December 2023 while also fighting cancer. He sadly died a month later at the age of 87.

It’s been two years since he passed, and honestly, it’s still incredibly difficult. I was listening to Kate, and she described exactly how I feel – especially around the anniversary of his death. She said she gets completely overwhelmed with exhaustion and sadness, and it really resonated with me. It’s just… a lot to carry, even after this much time.

The actress shared a collection of old photos of Roy, including pictures with his wife, her mother Judy Loe, and daughter Lily Sheen, and explained she’s still coping with his loss.

It’s clear I’m still struggling with my grief. Even two years after losing you, I couldn’t bring myself to look through my phone for pictures – it was just too painful.

As someone who’s navigated a lot of loss, I’ve learned that anniversary grief can be really sneaky. Sometimes, life gets busy, or you’re dealing with other sorrows, and you might not even realize the date is approaching. But trust me, your body remembers. It hits you – a wave of exhaustion and sadness – and suddenly, it all comes flooding back. It’s a powerful reminder that grief doesn’t just live in our minds, it lives within us.

She finished her heartfelt tribute to her stepfather, saying, ‘I miss you terribly. I’m relieved you aren’t here to witness the events unfolding, especially since you foresaw them years ago.’

My dearest Roy, I’ll miss being able to spoil you with fun Christmas gifts. I love you. Rest peacefully. Roy Battersby, born April 20, 1936, passed away January 10, 2024.

Kate was only five years old when her father, actor Richard Beckinsale – known for his role in ‘Porridge’ – unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 31.

Kate’s mother, Judy, later married Roy, and when Kate was nine years old, she went to live with him. Roy raised Kate alongside his five children – four sons and a daughter – effectively becoming her father figure.

Roy had a thriving career as a television director, known for his work on popular British shows like Inspector Morse and Cracker. He most recently directed an episode of A Touch of Frost in 2006.

In July 2025, Kate was deeply saddened by the death of her mother, Judy, who passed away at the age of 78 after a long struggle with cancer. This loss came a year and a half after another significant bereavement.

I was absolutely devastated when she posted on Instagram about her mom. Apparently, she passed away right in her arms on July 15th, after battling so much pain – she said it was ‘immeasurable,’ and honestly, it broke my heart just reading it. She said she was completely ‘paralysed’ by grief, and I can only imagine how awful that must have been. I’ve been thinking about her and her family ever since.

She became emotional last week while responding to online criticism about her weight loss, explaining it was due to the grief she experienced after losing both her mother and stepfather, which caused her body to shut down.

Kate shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about a very difficult year, and appeared to be fighting back tears as she spoke.

2025 was a very difficult year for me, as it was the last year I had with my amazing mother. Because of that, it’s hard for me to move on from it.

I recently lost my stepfather, about two years ago. It brought back difficult memories, as I also experienced the loss of my father when I was just five years old while my mother was in the hospital.

I experienced the loss of my father at a young age when he died of a massive heart attack at 31. Later, I also witnessed the death of my stepfather, and then the slow decline and eventual passing of my mother.

Kate shared that her grief had significantly reduced her appetite, explaining that experiencing so much pain simply doesn’t make you feel like eating.

I’m not sure if it’s related to feeling guilty for surviving, but this started after my stepdad passed away. It’s different from anorexia, which often feels like a battle of willpower. This feels like my body just shut down, and I think it’s a reaction to shock and trauma.

She explained that seeing loved ones suffer and die, especially when watching it alone, often takes away your appetite.

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2026-01-11 16:07