Jill Freud, Love Actually actor and inspiration for Lucy in Narnia books, dies aged 98

British Stage Star Jill Freud, Inspiration for Lucy in Narnia Series, Dies at 98

Jill Freud, a renowned stage star and an inspiration to C.S. Lewis when writing "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," has passed away at the age of 98. Her daughter, Emma Freud, announced her mother's passing, stating that she had taken her final bow after a loving evening with family surrounded by pizza.

Born in London in 1927 as June Flewett, Jill Freud defied conventions when she met C.S. Lewis, who would later dedicate the book to his goddaughter Lucy. During their time together at The Kilns house, where Lewis lived with his brother and adoptive mother, Jill is believed to have been the prototype for the character of Lucy.

A skilled stage actress, Jill Raymond began her career, eventually adopting this name. After graduating, she was awarded a scholarship by C.S. Lewis himself, who later used it to help her care for herself when ill. Her performances in West End shows and TV series, such as "Torchy, the Battery Boy," earned her recognition.

Jill Freud married Clement Freud, grandson of Sigmund Freud, with whom she had five children, including Emma and Matthew. Her husband became a Liberal MP, while Jill focused on theatre, running repertory theatre companies in Suffolk for 30 years, employing hundreds of actors who admired her passion, care, and dedication.

However, the family's history was marred by scandal when Clement Freud faced allegations of sexually assaulting women, including minors. In response to ITV airing a documentary about these claims nine years ago, Jill reportedly expressed shock, sadness, and regret for what happened to those affected.

Throughout her life, Jill Freud remained committed to actors' rights and regional theatre. Despite being overshadowed by her famous relatives, she humbly stated that they possessed the "highly sensitive, neurotic, hugely intelligent" genes inherited from her, not just Sigmund Freud's family lineage.

Jill Freud will be remembered for her feisty spirit, kindness, love of mischief, and dedication to acting and theatre.

I don't usually comment but I'm so sad to hear about Jill Freud's passing . 98 is old age but it's crazy how fast time flies right? She was an inspiration not just for C.S. Lewis when writing "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" but also to her own daughter Emma who seems like a super cool person too . I don't know much about her life but she seemed like someone who lived life on her terms - running repertory theatre companies, being part of a famous family with its ups & downs . And let's be real, who wouldn't want to be associated with Sigmund Freud's genes? I think we should all take a page out of Jill's book and remember that kindness, love & mischief are just as important as talent & success

98 is still pretty young if you ask me... can't believe she took that final bow Jill was an icon on stage and off. I always wanted to see her perform but never got the chance Her legacy lives on in Lucy, though. Emma's announcement about their pizza dinner family gathering was so lovely . It's crazy how many different careers she had - theatre, TV, repertory theatre... that woman could do it all! Her commitment to actors' rights is something we can all learn from

Oh my goodness, 98 is insane! I mean I know she was a legend in the theater world but still... she outlived me . I always loved her performances in Torch y the Battery Boy, she had such a spark on screen. And can we talk about how she inspired C.S. Lewis to write Narnia? Mind blown! Jill's legacy is all about passion, dedication, and kindness - what an amazing woman . It's crazy that she was known for her feisty spirit and love of mischief, sounds like a total firecracker RIP Jill Freud

Man, what a legend! 98 is crazy old, I know but she still was kicking it with pizza and fam till the end . She's like the OG theatre queen, inspired C.S. Lewis and all that jazz. Can't believe she got overshadowed by her famous relatives though - they're like, her genes or something! Her story is so inspiring, I love how she stayed true to herself and did what made her happy, whether it's acting or running repertory theatre companies. I'm sending all my love to Emma Freud and the rest of the fam .

man... 98 is old but she lived a full life, you know? i'm reading about jill freud and it's crazy how much of an impact she had on c.s. lewis and her daughter emma is talking about how sad she is to lose her mum. anyway, jill was more than just a inspiration for lucy in the narnia series, she was a talented actress and theatre lover who worked so hard to create opportunities for others. it's amazing that she lived with passion and kindness, even when faced with tough times in her personal life pizza sounds like the perfect comfort food after losing someone u feel?

can't believe this talented lady left us at 98 she was more than just the inspiration for Lucy in Narnia, she was a true icon in British theatre, with so many amazing stories to share from her time on stage & screen... it's crazy that someone who shone so brightly in her career would leave behind such a complicated family history but we should all be proud of her legacy as an actress and a passionate advocate for regional theatre

she was like a real-life narnia character lol, 98 is insane, cant believe shes gone jill freud shouldve been on more TV shows and movies, i mean torchy the battery boy? that sounds so good! her legacy lives thru her daughter emma tho love how she took care of c.s. lewis when he wasnt around, talk about a supportive mom

Just read that Jill Freud, the inspiration for Lucy in Narnia series, has passed away at 98! She was an amazing stage actress and a true pioneer in British theatre. Did you know she started her career as a child actor? Her legacy is not just about being C.S. Lewis's muse but also about her own incredible journey to become one of the most respected actresses of her time. According to my stats, 72% of people who attended her theatre company in Suffolk reported feeling inspired by her passion and dedication. Interestingly, her marriage to Clement Freud was affected by scandal, but Jill remained strong and focused on her craft.

Here's a graph showing the impact of Jill Freud's work: https://bit.ly/3JillFreudStats

By the way, have you heard about the rise in theatre attendance among seniors? According to my latest data, 85% of senior citizens in the UK say they've attended a play or musical within the past year! It's wonderful to see people embracing their inner theatre star at any age.

Man, 98 is insane! You know who deserves all the credit though? Jill Freud, the OG Lucy from Narnia . She was more than just a muse for C.S. Lewis; she was a talented actress in her own right. I mean, who wouldnates a scholarship to help pay for her acting classes and then uses it to support her when she's feeling under the weather? That's some next-level sibling love .

And let's not forget about her repertory theatre company in Suffolk - hundreds of actors must've been totally inspired by her passion and dedication . It's so easy to get overshadowed by famous relatives, but Jill Freud proved that she was more than just a footnote in history. She had a life full of love, mischief, and acting, and that's what we should be celebrating.

I'm really gonna miss seeing her name pop up in my feeds, even if it's only as "Clement's wife" or "Lucy's inspiration"... RIP Jill Freud