Key Highlights
- Jill Freud, known for her role in “Love Actually,” has passed away at the age of 98.
- The actress was an inspiration behind the character of Lucy Pevensie in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
- Freud shared a close relationship with C.S. Lewis during her teenage years while living in Oxford.
- She founded two rep theatre companies in Suffolk for 30 years, employing hundreds of actors.
The Life of an Actor and Producer: Jill Freud’s Legacy
Jill Freud, the actress known for her role as the housekeeper at Downing Street in “Love Actually,” has passed away at the age of 98. The news was announced by her daughter Emma, who shared a poignant statement about her mother’s final moments. “My beautiful 98 year old mum has taken her final bow. 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.'”
From Oxford to Hollywood: A Close Connection with C.S. Lewis
Freud’s journey as an actress began when, at the age of 16, she was evacuated to Oxford and lived with C.S. Lewis and his companion Jane Moore for three years. This period was pivotal in her life; C.S.
Lewis grew fond of Freud, and it is believed that he based the character of Lucy Pevensie in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” on her. In a 2014 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Freud shared, “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.”
A Life Dedicated to Theatre and Acting
Freud’s career extended far beyond her time on screen. She started acting under the name Jill Raymond and later married Sigmund Freud (not related to C.S. Freud) in 1950.
In 1980, she founded Jill Freud and Company, a theatre company that employed hundreds of actors over three decades. Known for her passion, care, devotion to regional theatre, and commitment to actor’s rights, she was revered by many within the industry.
Final Tributes Pour in
The news of her passing has sparked a wave of tributes from fellow actors and admirers. Her daughter Emma highlighted Freud’s feisty, outrageous, kind, loving, and mischievous nature, adding that she was “lucky old heaven getting such a dazzling newcomer.” The legacy of an actress who not only shone on the big screen but also inspired literature remains deeply felt in both the film industry and literary circles.
As we remember Jill Freud, her contributions to acting and theatre will continue to be celebrated. Her life serves as a reminder of the profound impact that artists can have, even long after their active careers come to an end.
