Kate Beckinsale Mourns the Loss of Her Mother Judy Loe After Cancer Battle

18 July 2025

Kate Beckinsale has shared heartbreaking news: her mother, English actress Judy Loe, passed away on July 15 at the age of 78 following an intense, year-long struggle with stage 4 cancer. In an emotional Instagram post on July 17, Beckinsale revealed that her mother “died in my arms after immeasurable suffering,” a moment marked by deep sorrow and a feeling of being utterly overwhelmed by grief.

Describing Judy as the “compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend,” Beckinsale conveyed her profound loss and apologised for sharing the news publicly, explaining she had to register her mother’s death before it became official public record. The Underworld star emphasised how Judy’s bravery, kindness, forgiveness and faith in humanity shaped not only her daughter’s life but the lives of many others as well.

Judy Loe leaves behind a legacy of varied screen roles, beginning her career in the 1970 production of Hair and appearing in beloved British television series such as Edward the Seventh, Casualty, General Hospital, Inspector Morse, and even Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. Her final performance was in the 2024 Netflix thriller Fool Me Once. Born in Lancashire in 1947 and a graduate of the University of Birmingham in English and drama, Judy’s career spanned more than fifty years and her on-screen warmth quietly warmed many homes.

Beckinsale’s grief is particularly poignant, following the devastating death of her stepfather, television director Roy Battersby, in January 2024, and the loss of her father, actor Richard Beckinsale, when she was a young child. The passing of Judy Loe who had been by her side through illness and treatment marks another deep personal blow. Beckinsale admitted that losing her mother fulfilled her greatest fear, losing the final parental figure she had ever known.

In her tribute, Beckinsale apologised to her mother’s friends for having to find out through social media, citing her own inability to sort through the emotional aftermath captured in photos and videos. She described the world as feeling “so dim without her” and confessed, “I am paralysed,” capturing the raw depth of her grief and the immense void left behind.

Judy’s bravery and generous spirit were evident not just on screen but in how she lived her life, offering kindness and forgiveness even when faced with her own mortality. Her daughter’s words reflect an enduring admiration and love, a daughter’s final goodbye to the woman who shaped her heart, her values, and her voice.

The cultural significance of Judy Loe continues through her daughter’s continued presence in film and television, and the memory of a woman who spent decades bringing stories and characters to life with warmth and humanity. As Kate Beckinsale navigates this period of mourning, fans and colleagues alike have offered condolences, acknowledging the profound loss felt behind that Instagram post.

Judy Loe’s journey from British television notable to the devoted mother of a Hollywood star reflects a life both ordinary and extraordinary. Her legacy will live on through her work, and through the personal testimonies shared by those who loved her most.