James McAvoy rushes to support ex-wife Anne-Marie Duff as she reveals her brother has died aged just 55 after battle with early-onset dementia

by

James McAvoy publicly shared his sympathy and support for his former wife, Anne-Marie Duff, after the tragic loss of her brother, Eddie.

Actress Sharon Horgan, 55, recently shared the sad news that her brother passed away earlier this year. He was in his mid-50s and had been bravely fighting early-onset Alzheimer’s disease for 15 years.

Now, she’s dedicated to honoring his memory by spreading awareness about Alzheimer’s and raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The 47-year-old X-Men actor, who separated from his wife Anne-Marie in 2016 after nine years together, shared her sad news on Thursday to help spread awareness and support.

Anne-Marie posted a throwback photo with her brother on Instagram, announcing she’ll be participating in Trek26 next month. She’s walking 26 miles around central London to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, alongside other supporters.

She explained she was participating to remember her brother, Eddie, who died earlier this year. He had been diagnosed with dementia at a very young age, in his forties.

In a heartfelt tribute, she shared that he was the life of the party – always funny, kind, and a remarkably loyal friend to those who knew him.

He was the one who introduced me to cool music – he got me listening to artists like Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, and The Beatles instead of pop. I’ll especially miss his playful smile, infectious laugh, and, most of all, watching him dance.

Anne-Marie, recently winning a BAFTA for her performance in the Apple TV comedy Bad Sisters, is asking for support through a JustGiving page. She hopes people will donate not only in honor of Eddie, but also for anyone they know and love who is living with dementia.

I’m absolutely blown away by the support for her JustGiving page! She only created it five days ago, and already it’s raised over £5,600! It’s incredible to see so many people donating, even some well-known faces. I’m so proud of her for taking on this challenge and for inspiring everyone to give.

James Corden, 47, has donated £1,000 to support the cause, and David Morrissey, 62, also contributed with a donation of £200.

Sherwood acted with Anne-Marie in two movies: the 2009 film Nowhere Boy, a biography of John Lennon where she played his mother, Julia Stanley, and Morrissey played Julia’s partner, Bobby Dykins, and the 2008 film, Is Anybody There?

Tamzin Outhwaite, age 55, left a supportive message on Anne-Marie’s donation page, writing ‘Sending much love to AMD and the whole family.’ Interestingly, she was first introduced to her former husband, Tom Ellis, by actor James McAvoy.

Anne-Marie and James first met and began their relationship in 2004 while filming the Channel 4 series Shameless. They played a couple – Fiona Gallagher and Steve McBride – on the show.

The couple got married in a private ceremony in November 2006 and generally kept their relationship out of the public eye.

I’ve always loved hearing about Anne-Marie and her family. They have a son named Brendan, who’s 16, and it’s so sweet that he’s named after her dad. He was a painter and decorator originally from County Meath in Ireland. He and his wife, Mary, moved over to Britain to start a new life, and it’s lovely to know that legacy continues with Brendan.

I was so shocked and saddened to hear that they announced their separation back in May 2016. They put out a statement together, and honestly, it was heartbreaking. It said they’d made the incredibly difficult decision to divorce… it just felt so final and sad to read.

We’re moving forward with kindness, love, and respect, and we’ll always prioritize the well-being of our son.

Despite ending their relationship, the two actors continued to prioritize their privacy and treat each other with respect. James explained in an interview with Mr Porter that he and Anne-Marie had agreed while they were together to never discuss their relationship publicly.

We almost never violated that understanding, and when we did, it was over small matters – like letting someone know we were having turkey for Christmas. That principle remains true today. Even though we’re no longer together, we continue to treat each other with respect, both in public and in private.

To avoid upsetting Brendan, the ex-couple kept living together in their North London house for a while. Eventually, James moved to his own apartment close by in Crouch End.

The Scottish actor married Lisa Liberati, who he met on the set of the 2017 film Split. At the time, she was working as an assistant to the director, M. Night Shyamalan.

The couple got married in 2022. They already had a son, born in 2020, and welcomed another child in 2022, but haven’t revealed whether it’s a boy or a girl.

Read More

2026-04-30 18:20