Hugh Bonneville has admitted he feels ‘blessed to start a new chapter‘ after a turbulent few years.
The 62-year-old actor split from his wife, Lulu Williams, in 2023, following a difficult period of personal loss – he’d lost his mother, brother, and father within six years.
Hugh has now found love with vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova.
Their relationship has continued to blossom, and Heidi even joined him at the New York premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale last September.
The TV star admitted: ‘I do feel very blessed and very content to have started a new chapter.
I’ve grown to appreciate life’s ups and downs, and I’m grateful for my generally good health and the chance to pursue work I enjoy.
In the February issue of Saga Magazine, Hugh shared his experience with the intense sadness he felt after the loss of his mother, Patricia.
Patricia – whom he only learned later in life worked for MI6 – died aged 85 in 2014.
It marked the beginning of a prolonged period of family loss that would deeply affect the actor.
He explained that handling the arrangements after the funeral temporarily lessened the pain. He didn’t read the sympathy letters people sent until a year later, when he brought them with him on a trip to India.
I was filming a movie and had a rare weekend off, so I escaped to a really quiet, secluded hotel. I spent the time reading old letters and finally allowed myself to fully feel and release all my pent-up emotions. It was incredibly healing.
Two years after Nigel’s sudden death in his sleep, Hugh also lost his father, John. A surgeon, John passed away in 2020 at the age of 93 after struggling with dementia.
Honestly, after losing my mom, dad, and brother, it’s just… changed how I see everything. I feel like things are just going to happen, you know? Like there’s not much point in even trying to plan or hope for the best. It’s not that I’m sad all the time, it’s just… I’ve accepted that some things are out of your control. It’s a really tough thing to explain, but it’s made me a lot more… resigned, I guess.
Hugh, a father to 22-year-old Felix (whose mother is his ex-wife, Lucinda), will be performing at the Aldwych Theatre next month.
He will portray CS Lewis in the West End production of Shadowlands.
Hugh Bonneville, when asked about returning as Lord Grantham after the final Downton Abbey episode, suggested a spin-off might happen, but indicated that the original cast and crew are unlikely to be involved, saying ‘we’ve moved on’.
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- Vampire’s Fall 2 redeem codes and how to use them (June 2025)
- World Eternal Online promo codes and how to use them (September 2025)
- Best Arena 9 Decks in Clast Royale
- Country star who vanished from the spotlight 25 years ago resurfaces with viral Jessie James Decker duet
- M7 Pass Event Guide: All you need to know
- Mobile Legends January 2026 Leaks: Upcoming new skins, heroes, events and more
- Kingdoms of Desire turns the Three Kingdoms era into an idle RPG power fantasy, now globally available
- Solo Leveling Season 3 release date and details: “It may continue or it may not. Personally, I really hope that it does.”
- JJK’s Worst Character Already Created 2026’s Most Viral Anime Moment, & McDonald’s Is Cashing In
2026-01-19 04:51