Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville has spoken candidly about finding happiness in a new relationship following several years of profound personal loss and the end of his marriage.
A Period of Profound Loss
The 62-year-old actor revealed the immense grief he endured after losing his mother, brother, and father all within a six-year period. This series of tragedies preceded his separation in 2023 from Lulu Williams, his wife of 25 years.
In a heartfelt interview for the February edition of Saga Magazine, Bonneville reflected on the death of his mother, Patricia, in 2014. He shared that he only discovered later in life that she had worked for MI6. Her passing at age 85 marked the start of this difficult chapter.
'The admin of the funeral and everything numbed the grief for a while,' he admitted. He explained that he did not read the many letters of condolence until a year later, when he took them to a remote hotel in India. There, he finally allowed himself to fully process the emotion in what he described as a 'very cathartic' experience.
This was followed by the unexpected death of his brother, Nigel, in his sleep two years later. Then, in 2020, his father John—a retired surgeon—passed away at 93 after living with dementia.
Finding Love and a New Outlook
Emerging from this turbulent time, Bonneville has now found romance with vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova. Their relationship has blossomed, with Kadlecova supporting him on the red carpet at the New York premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale last September.
The actor expressed a renewed sense of contentment and perspective. 'I do feel very blessed and very content to have started a new chapter,' he stated. 'I am more accepting of the wheel of life and how fortunate I have been to have, on the whole, good health and to do something I love.'
He added that losing three key family members has made him more fatalistic in his outlook on life. Bonneville shares a 22-year-old son, Felix, with his ex-wife, Lucinda.
On Stage and The Future of Downton
Professionally, Bonneville is preparing for a return to the stage. He is set to portray author C.S. Lewis in the West End production of Shadowlands at London's Aldwych Theatre next month.
When questioned about potentially reprising his iconic role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, he suggested that while a spin-off of the hit period drama could always be possible, 'our company has left the building', indicating the main chapter has concluded.
Through both personal resilience and new beginnings, Hugh Bonneville is navigating his way forward, embracing a fresh start with gratitude.
