Actress Kate Beckinsale has publicly revealed a deeply personal tattoo tribute to her late mother, Judy Loe, following her passing at age 78 earlier this summer. The emotional gesture comes as the 52-year-old actress continues to navigate the profound grief of losing her mother after what she described as 'immeasurable suffering'.
A Permanent Tribute to a Beloved Mother
Taking to Instagram on Friday, Beckinsale shared images of her new tattoo featuring a sketch of her mother from 1971. The poignant artwork appears on her arm beneath another tattoo that reads 'Fatherless sc*m' - a reference to David Bowie's 1979 song Fantastic Voyage that pays tribute to both her late father and stepfather.
In her characteristically candid caption, Beckinsale wrote: 'If everyone would stop dying I wouldn't have so many tattoos.' She expressed gratitude to tattoo artist @_dr_woo_ for creating the beautiful portrait of her mother, while also acknowledging @endrystymest for her previous tattoos.
A Journey Through Grief and Celebration
The tattoo revelation follows Beckinsale's heartbreaking announcement in July that her mother had died in her arms on July 15. While she didn't confirm the official cause of death, the actress had previously disclosed that Judy had been battling stage four cancer for the past two years.
Last month, Beckinsale shared poignant photographs from her mother's funeral at Chiswick House, where family and friends gathered to honour Judy's life according to her specific wishes. The ceremony notably forbade black attire, with Judy having requested a celebration of her life rather than a traditional mournful service.
In an emotional Instagram caption accompanying the funeral photos, Beckinsale described still feeling 'blindsided and devastated' by her mother's passing. She heartbreakingly admitted: 'I still reach for my phone in the early hours of the morning to text you and then realise that I won't get a response.'
Family Support Through Multiple Losses
Beckinsale was supported at the funeral by her 26-year-old daughter Lily, whom she shares with ex-partner Michael Sheen. Sheen himself attended to offer support, with photographs capturing tender moments between family members during the difficult occasion.
This recent tragedy marks another devastating loss for Beckinsale, coming just 18 months after the death of her stepfather Roy in January 2024. Roy had been hospitalised in Los Angeles after suffering a massive stroke while battling two forms of cancer.
Tragically, this pattern of loss has haunted Beckinsale since childhood, when her biological father, actor Richard Beckinsale, died suddenly in 1979 when Kate was just five years old. The Porridge and Rising Damp star passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition at only 31, leaving behind Judy and their two daughters.
In her initial announcement of her mother's passing, Beckinsale described Judy as 'the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend' and acknowledged that this had been her greatest fear since discovering her father's body as a young child.
The actress continues to navigate her grief publicly while honouring her mother's legacy through permanent tributes and heartfelt social media posts that celebrate the extraordinary bond they shared.
