Actress Kate Beckinsale has delivered a raw and poignant message about the nature of grief, shared alongside a series of personal photos on social media. The 52-year-old star is mourning the loss of her beloved mother, Judy Loe, who passed away last year at the age of 78.
A Heartfelt Statement on Loss
In a candid Instagram post, Beckinsale directly addressed her followers, emphasising that "grief is not a contest". She shared several striking images of herself wearing a white bikini top, frilly knickers, and knee-high platform boots, taken on a Los Angeles beach and at her apartment.
She wrote in the caption: "Grief is not a contest - whatever and whoever you have lost, your grief, your own grief is the worst grief. Don’t let anyone make you feel you’re in some kind of grief competition that’s just bulls**t." The Hollywood actress stressed that suffering requires support, stating "Grief needs a witness. You cannot do it alone."
Unexpected Support and Past Trauma
Beckinsale revealed that the people who have stepped up to support her were not always those she expected. She noted it is often "women who have suffered a tremendous loss, multiple losses, been raped, been abused, injured or betrayed" who offer the most profound understanding.
This public reflection follows the star recently hitting back at online commentators who made cruel remarks about her noticeable weight loss. She connected her physical change directly to the trauma of bereavement, having lost both her stepfather, director Roy Battersby, in January 2024, and then her mother.
"It doesn't make you feel very hungry," she explained in a previous Instagram Reel. "And it's not like anorexia... It's like your body has closed down. I think it's shock and trauma." She is the daughter of the late actor Richard Beckinsale, whose death she also continues to grieve.
Choosing Compassion Over Cruelty
Despite her pain, Beckinsale made a firm commitment to kindness. She stated she refuses to become the type of person who would make "nasty" remarks about other people's appearances, a value she credits to her upbringing.
Concluding her powerful message, she wrote: "I am so grateful to have been brought up by people who raised me like that. And I really miss them." Her posts have sparked a significant conversation among fans about grief, empathy, and the unkind nature of online scrutiny.
