Kate Beckinsale is openly mourning the death of her mother, British actress Judy Loe, who died Tuesday at 78 following a yearslong battle with cancer.
Loe, best known for her work on shows like the long-running American soap opera “General Hospital” and the acclaimed British detective series “Inspector Morse,” announced her stage 4 cancer diagnosis in 2023.
Beckinsale is the only child of Loe and her first husband, beloved British comedy actor Richard Beckinsale. The “Underworld” star took to social media on Friday to confirm her mom’s passing.
Karwai Tang/Getty Images
Judy Loe and Kate Beckinsale attend a tennis match at Wimbledon in 2019. (Photo by Karwai Tang/Getty Images)
“I don’t want to post this,” Beckinsale captioned a series of snapshots of the veteran thespian. “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.”
Beckinsale explained that her post may not have used the “best photos” of her mother because she can’t yet “bear to go through my camera roll.” She also apologized to any of Loe’s friends who were learning of her death on social media or through the press, saying she hadn’t been able to “go through her phone” to collect contact information.
“I am paralysed. Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend,” Beckinsdale continued. “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.”
Loe was born in Manchester, England and went on to earn a degree in English and drama from Birmingham University. She acted in repertory theater before making her debut in the West End production of “Hair” in 1969.
Other notable credits include the children’s fantasy drama “Ace of Wands,” 1975’s period piece “Edward the Seventh” and the 1998 sci-fi series “Space Island One.” Her last onscreen appearance was in the 2024 series “Fool Me Once.”
