Emma Freud/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
Jill Freud, a British actress and theater producer who is credited with inspiring the Chronicles of Narnia character Lucy Pevensie, has died at 98
Freud's daughter Emma, who is married to filmmaker Richard Curtis, announced Jill's death on Monday, Nov. 24
"She was feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous. Lucky old heaven getting such a dazzling newcomer," Emma wrote on Instagram
Jill Freud, the British actress and theater producer who was author C.S. Lewis's inspiration for theChronicles of Narniacharacter Lucy Pevensie, has died. She was 98.Jill's daughter Emma, a British television presenter who is married toLove Actuallywriter-directorRichard Curtis, announced the news of her mother's death onInstagramMonday, Nov. 24.
"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 eventually told us all to f--- off so she could go to sleep," Emma wrote. "And then she never woke up. Her final words were 'I love you.' "
Emma shared eight photos of her mother over the years on Instagram and a video of the late actress tap dancing with her and her granddaughters.
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Jill was born as June Flewett on April 22, 1927. She changed her name to Jill for her acting career. As a teenager, she moved to author Lewis's home during World War II after being evacuated from London. Lewis, who died in 1963 at age 64, based the character Lucy Pevensie fromThe Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobeon Jill, as both her daughter wrote on Instagram andThe Hollywood Reporternoted in a 2014 interview with her.
Jill, who was married to Sigmund Freud's grandson Sir Clement Freud, toldTHRthat she only learned she was the inspiration for the character in the 2000s. "I was absolutely thrilled. It's like being told you were the real Lady Macbeth," she said at the time.
On the West End stage, Jill performed under the name Jill Raymond. She made her onscreen debut in 1947'sThe Woman in the Halland appeared in more than 25 television and big screen roles through 2003. As her daughter Emma noted on Instagram, her final onscreen role came in that year's holiday rom-comLove Actuallyas Pat the housekeeper.
Emma Freud/Instagram
"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 inLove Actually," Emma wrote on Instagram.
"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 added of her mother. "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."
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