Kate Beckinsale has shared an emotional tribute to her late stepfather Roy Battersby on the one year anniversary of his death.
Her stepfather Roy was hospitalised in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering ‘a massive stroke’ while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer.
He then sadly passed away a month later aged 87.
In the candid Instagram post, Kate revealed she’ll forever be ‘haunted’ after seeing Roy die.
Alongside a beaming snap of Roy, Kate penned: ‘Finding my father’s dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever.
‘It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.
Kate Beckinsale has shared an emotional tribute to her late stepfather Roy Battersby on the one year anniversary of his death
Her stepfather Roy was hospitalised in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering ‘a massive stroke’ while battling two forms of cancer , which he was diagnosed with in the summer
‘In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships, at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.
‘I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed -but I am trying to console myself today with all the preparation that he did in the last years of his life, how deeply he studied and practised as a Jungian and how thin the veil is between the energy of this life and whatever is next, that some part of him was at peace with it.
‘It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure.
She added that although it is a ‘tough day’ to talk about the tragedy, she wants to ‘honour him’.
‘He taught me how to be brave. He taught me that it doesn’t matter if people don’t like you as long as you’re doing the right thing, he lost everything fighting for justice for the trade unions, for the Palestinians in the ’70s, living with them in refugee camps in Lebanon for several years making his 1977 documentary ‘The Palestinian’, fighting for the miners losing everything in the strikes.
‘It was Roy who lovingly helped my Jewish adopted grandmother who fled Germany at 14,to painfully uncover what had become of her brother and parents who did not make it.
‘He was blacklisted by the BBC and elsewhere. He would have had a completely different career if he had toed the line and not cared so much about what was right.’
She signed off by saying: ‘I am so lucky that I was raised by someone who uncompromisingly knew what was right and lived it. And loved me .Thank you for being my father. I miss you so much.’
He then sadly passed away a month later aged 87
In the candid Instagram post, Kate revealed she’ll forever be ‘haunted’ after seeing Roy die
The tribute post comes after her stepfather Roy was hospitalised in Los Angeles in December after suffering ‘a massive stroke’ while battling two forms of cancer , which he was diagnosed with in the summer of 2023 (pictured L-R in 1996, Kate, Roy, and her mother Judy Loe)
At the time of Roy’s death, the actress shared a black square without a caption on her Instagram account and her friends and fans offered their condolences in the comments.
The British actress had been quietly caring for both her beloved mother and stepfather as they battled a slew of serious health issues, DailyMail.com previously revealed.
Kate’s actress mother Judy Loe married Roy in 1997 – 18 years after Kate’s father, Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, died.
Roy enjoyed his successful career as a director, working on major British on-screen hits including Inspector Morse and Cracker. His most recent directorial credit was for a 2006 episode of A Touch Of Frost.
‘I have no words yet,’ Kate captioned an Instagram video, before thanking a fan account for editing it. ‘Oh Roy I am so sorry I lost.’
The clip opened with a moving recording of Roy recalling how he was forced to hide in a shelter during the Blitz early in World War II as Nazi bombs rained down.
He called the eventual announcement of Victory in Europe Day a ‘wonderful thing,’ because it meant no more hiding in shelters, and young men no longer had to leave their families to go off to fight across the continent.
The video also featured several sweet photos of Kate with her stepfather and her mother, including a hilarious photo showing her and Roy beaming at each other while holding playfully insulting tea cups.
It comes after Kate admitted she was preparing for her first year ‘without a father figure’ on the anniversary of her dad Richard’s death last month (Pictured L-R in 1978 Richard, Kate, Judy)
Kate rushed from the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday, January 7 to the hospital, sharing photos of herself on the red carpet and by Roy’s bedside with the caption: ‘Golden Globes 2024 start to end.’
She was still clad in her glamorous Atelier Zuhra gown for the hospital visit, as she ate a burger and chatted to her friends and family in Roy’s room.
Her friends and followers were quick to check in on the star, with one commenting: ‘I don’t know how you made it through last night with all that is going on. You are strong and a consummate pro.
‘Having to leave the side of your beautiful Roy to honour this commitment at the Globes was above and beyond. Sending love and prayers to you and your family. I’m so happy you were able to make it back to the hospital. ❤️’
Kate responded: ‘Thank you and thank you for your supportive texts all the way through. That was so kind xx’
