Lucia Hawley's Emotional Tribute to Her Late Father Angus Hawley
Lucia Hawley, the 27-year-old niece of Hollywood star Nicole Kidman, has publicly shared the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding her father's death in a deeply personal Instagram tribute. Angus Hawley, the former husband of Nicole Kidman's sister Antonia Kidman, died at age 46 during a business trip to New York in 2015 from a suspected heart attack.
The Moment Tragedy Struck
In her lengthy social media post, Lucia described how she learned the devastating news as a 16-year-old teenager. 'I was playing dress-ups with my then-eight-year-old sister when my mum delivered the news,' she wrote, recalling the moment as the 'greatest sadness' of her life. The scene was set on a balmy Saturday afternoon with the INXS hit 'Never Tear Us Apart' playing in the background, while Lucia wore a pink tutu—an outfit she noted was 'not the most practical for receiving such earth-shattering information.'
Lucia, who later became a presenter for 7Bravo, confessed she had expected life-changing events to come with some warning. Instead, she found herself grappling with immediate shock and disbelief. 'I don't really know how to describe the feeling of losing someone,' she admitted, capturing the raw emotion of that tragic day.
A Decade of Grieving and Healing
The journalist revealed she attempted to call her father's phone repeatedly after learning of his death. 'I hoped he would pick up, but naturally, he didn't – he had, in fact, died. Never to be seen or heard from again,' she wrote, adding that she called his number '5000 times' while dissolving into sobs of grief.
Reflecting on the years since 2015, Lucia explained how each anniversary marked a different stage of her grieving process. 'Each anniversary since 2015 has marked a different stage of grieving,' she continued, describing the initial years as filled with 'excruciating' pain. However, she noted that time has gradually transformed her relationship with grief. 'But as time marches on, the pain has become less excruciating, less consuming. Instead, it feels more distant – still tender and present, but not the beast that it used to be.'
Now, a decade later, Lucia feels she has learned to live alongside her grief. 'A decade on, I feel I have learnt to live alongside my grief, to embrace it,' she concluded, adding that she now aims to 'nurture and protect it.'
Family Memories and Support
Lucia's tribute included a gallery of cherished family photographs and videos that captured precious moments with her father. One touching throwback video showed Angus holding baby Lucia in his arms, while another clip featured him improvising a dance with his toddler daughter, both laughing joyfully.
She also shared snapshots of her siblings—Hamish, 25, James, 23, and Sybella, 17—enjoying family time with their dad. 'It’s hard to put into words how much losing my dad has taught me about the world,' Lucia captioned the post. 'In some ways, it feels like yesterday he was here and in others, it’s hard to imagine a world where he existed. 11 years on, and I still miss him every day.'
The post garnered significant support from followers, including former Seven presenter Jess Rowe and journalist Melissa Hoyer. Rowe commented, 'So beautiful, darling Lucia, thank you for sharing this with us,' while Hoyer added, 'Articulated so beautifully – what a proud dad he would certainly be.'
Background on Angus Hawley
Angus Hawley, who divorced Antonia Kidman in 2007, is reported to have passed away en route to the hospital following a suspected cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, he was married to his second wife, Prue Fisher, whom he had wed in March 2011. His sudden passing during a business trip to the United States left his family and loved ones in profound mourning, a grief that Lucia has now courageously shared with the world.
