Kate Beckinsale Shares Mother Judy Loe's Passing at 78

The Passing of Judy Loe, Mother of Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale has shared the heartbreaking news of her mother’s passing. Judy Loe, who was 78 years old, passed away in the early hours of July 15, surrounded by her daughter. The British actress, known for her roles in films such as Van Helsing, Love and Friendship, and Underworld, took to Instagram on Friday, July 18, to announce the loss. Her post was emotional and raw, revealing that she had been “paralysed” by grief.

The announcement came just two years after Beckinsale revealed that her mother had been battling stage four cancer. A week before this latest update, she had shared a video of herself at her hospital bedside, which she later deleted. While the official cause of death has not yet been disclosed, the emotional weight of the moment is evident in Beckinsale’s message.

“I don’t want to post this,” she wrote, accompanied by a series of photos of her mother. “I am only posting this because I have had to register my mother’s death certificate, and it will soon become public record. She died the night of 15 July in my arms after immeasurable suffering.”

She continued: “I have not picked all the best photos, nor the best videos, because I cannot bear to go through my camera roll yet. I deeply apologise to any of her friends who are finding out this way or through the press, but I cannot go through her phone. I am paralysed. Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend.”

Beckinsale described her mother as a woman with a vast heart and a profound impact on those around her. “The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly. She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear.”

A Legacy in the Arts

Judy Loe had a long and varied career in the performing arts. Born in Urmston, Lancashire, she was one of the original cast members of the musical Hair and made her TV debut in Ace of Wands in 1970. She went on to appear in several notable productions, including Z-Cars, Edward the Seventh, General Hospital, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, and Inspector Morse. In the 2000s, she was seen in Casualty and Holby City, playing the role of Jan Goddard.

Loe’s husband, Roy Battersby, who was also an actor, passed away last year after suffering a stroke and battling two forms of cancer. Beckinsale has spoken about how the loss of her mother has been a deep fear for her since childhood. At the age of five, she discovered her biological father dead, and from that point on, the loss of her mother became her greatest fear.

“Mama, I love you so much,” she wrote. “This has been my greatest fear since finding my father dead at five, and I am here. Oh my Mama. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I am so sorry.”

Coping with Grief

In recent weeks, Beckinsale has been open about the pain she is experiencing. Earlier this month, she responded to comments about her apparent weight loss, sharing that she has been going through one of the most painful times of her life.

“I’m going through one of the most deeply painful times of my life. The body keeps the score,” she wrote.

Her words reflect the emotional toll of losing a parent, especially someone who was a central figure in her life. As she navigates this difficult period, fans and followers continue to offer their support and condolences.