Love Actually Star Jill Freud Dies Aged 98: Family Honors ‘Feisty’ Great-Grandmother Who Inspired Narnia Character

Actress and producer Jill Freud has died at the age of 98.

The star’s family have paid tribute to the ‘feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous’ star who as a child inspired the character of Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe before enjoying a successful 30 year career in the arts. 

Jill’s daughter, the broadcaster Emma Freud wrote: ‘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’.’

‘As a child she was evacuated to Oxford and ended up living with CS Lewis for three years… he based the character of Lucy in ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ on her.’

Jill’s final movie role was in Emma’s partner Richard Curtis’ movie Love Actually, Emma recalled.   

Actress and producer Jill Freud has died at the age of 98. The star’s family have paid tribute to the ‘feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous’ star

Jill’s daughter, the broadcaster Emma Freud wrote: ‘My beautiful 98 year old mum has taken her final bow’ (Jill is pictured with Emma and her granddaughter Scarlett Curtis) 

‘She became an actress/producer and ran two rep theatre companies in Suffolk for 30 years – employing 100’s of actors who loved her for her passion, her care, her shepherd’s pie, her devotion to regional theatre and her commitment to actor’s rights. Her last film role was as the housekeeper at Downing Street in ‘Love Actually’.

‘She had the same lunch every day – a glass of red wine and a packet of crisps, and during Covid, aged 93, locked up with 3 other Freud gals, she took part in a tap class every morning.

‘She was 98, mother of 5, grandmother of 17, great grandmother of 7 – she was feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous. Lucky old heaven getting such a dazzling newcomer. Jill Freud.’

Jill’s final movie role was in Emma’s partner Richard Curtis’ movie Love Actually, in which she played the Downing Street housekeeper