Veteran actress Jill Freud, best known for her role as the housekeeper at Downing Street in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually, has died peacefully at the age of 98, her daughter Emma has announced.
Emma participated in the sad news in a sincere statement, describing how her mama had taken her “final bow” after spending a loving evening with her children and grandchildren.
The family gathered for a simple, joyous mess of pizza before Ms Freud passed away, still in her sleep.
“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,” Emma revealed.
The 98-year-old never regained consciousness, and her final words were the tender declaration, “I love you.”
The homage reflected Ms Freud’s unmistakable wit and humour, rates she maintained throughout her life. Emma’s account captured the actress’s impious spirit, showing a woman who lived completely and left on her own terms.
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Jill Freud’s Life in Theatre and Film
Born on 22 April 1927, Jill Freud’s extraordinary life began long before her cinematic fame. During the Second World War, she and her family were evacuated to Oxford at the age of 16.
They stayed with famed author C.S. Lewis and his companion Jane Moore, forming a bond so strong that Lewis later drew inspiration from her for one of his most cherished characters.
Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia was based on Ms Freud, a connection she spoke about in a 2014 interview, saying, “It’s years since I read it, but in the stage version I saw a few years ago, Lucy was very likeable, it was quite flattering.”
Following her time with Lewis, Ms Freud pursued her passion for acting and gained admission to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, with Lewis generously covering her tuition fees.
Performing under the stage name Jill Raymond, she made her mark on the West End before marrying Sigmund Freud’s grandson in 1950.
From West End Star to Love Actually Icon
In 1980, she founded Jill Freud and Company, running repertory theatre companies in Suffolk for three decades.
Emma highlighted her mother’s devotion to regional theatre and the welfare of performers, noting that hundreds of actors cherished her “for her passion, her care, her shepherd’s pie, her devotion to regional theatre and her commitment to actors’ rights.”
Ms Freud’s final screen appearance came in Love Actually, where she played a member of the Prime Minister’s ménage staff, cementing her place in British film history.
Indeed, in her nineties, she retained remarkable vitality, attending diurnal valve dancing classes during lockdown at the age of 93 while living with three other members of the Freud family.
Jill Freud’s end marks the end of a life defined by creativity, humour, and kindness. She leaves behind a heritage of theatrical achievement and cherished recollections for her family, musketeers, and the innumerable actors she inspired.
