British actress and model Elizabeth Hurley has spoken candidly about the lasting emotional toll following the tragic death of her former fiancé, Australian cricket icon Shane Warne.
A Love Remembered: The Warne-Hurley Romance
The pair began their high-profile relationship in 2010, a time when Hurley was still married to Indian businessman Arun Nayar. After she filed for divorce, the couple became engaged in 2011, captivating media on both sides of the world before amicably parting ways in 2013.
Despite the split, Warne later reflected on their time together as the happiest of his life. In a 2018 interview, the legendary leg-spinner, who took 708 Test wickets in 145 matches, told the Mirror: "I was more in love with Elizabeth than I’d realised I could be. I miss the love we had. My years with Elizabeth were the happiest of my life."
The Shock of Loss and a Public Tribute
Shane Warne died suddenly from a heart attack in March 2022 while on holiday in Thailand. He was just 52 years old. In the wake of his passing, Hurley paid a moving tribute on social media, calling him her "beloved lionheart" and "one of the best men I’ve ever known."
Her son, film director Damian Hurley, also expressed his devastation, revealing Warne had been a father figure during his formative years and that his "heart is broken."
Finding Closure in Melbourne
Hurley, now 60, recently discussed how the loss continues to affect her and her son's creative work while promoting Damian's film Strictly Confidential. "It was appalling losing Shane, it was a terrible thing," she told The Telegraph. "And it’s a sadness, you know, that stays with you a long time."
In November 2024, Hurley travelled to Australia for an emotional reunion with Warne's family, a trip she described as "very traumatic" but necessary for closure. Having missed his state funeral due to work commitments, she finally met with his parents, brother, and his three children—Brooke, Jackson, and Summer—from his marriage to Simone Callahan.
"Going back was very bittersweet," Hurley admitted on the Travel Secrets podcast. "I got very upset, but then I was very glad that I went. And I know when I next go back to Australia, I’ll be fine."
The actress's poignant reflections underscore the deep and enduring bond she shared with the cricketing great, a connection that has clearly left a permanent mark on her life.
