In a deeply personal and candid revelation, actress Jessie Cave, best known for playing Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter film series, has disclosed that she suffered a miscarriage after spending weeks wrestling with the decision to terminate an unplanned fifth pregnancy. The 38-year-old star opened up about this traumatic experience during an episode of her podcast, Before We Break Up Again, which she hosts with her partner, comedian Alfie Brown.
A Christmas Discovery and Mixed Emotions
Jessie Cave discovered she was pregnant again over the Christmas period, a revelation that came with little joy or certainty. "I fell pregnant, found out on Boxing Day," she explained. "This time, no symptoms whatsoever. So it was only because I hadn't had a period that I took a test." The actress described an immediate sense that something was amiss, contrasting this pregnancy with her previous four, where she had instinctively known from the very beginning.
The couple, who are already parents to sons Donnie (11), Abraham (5), Becker (3), and daughter Margot (9), faced a complex emotional landscape. Jessie had booked an abortion appointment while still deeply conflicted about the decision, a process she found stressful and judgemental. "Even during that call, which took forever and it was the most stressful, judgemental call," she recalled, highlighting the difficult conversations surrounding reproductive choices.
The Scan That Changed Everything
Due to her polycystic ovaries and irregular periods, Jessie required a scan before any potential procedure could proceed to date the pregnancy. She approached this appointment with a mix of anxiety and secret hope, even wishing for twins. However, the scan delivered devastating news: the foetus had no heartbeat. "Then she says, oh, it's got no heartbeat," Jessie recounted, describing the moment she was told the pregnancy was not viable. "I had to pretend like, oh, it's not such a big deal to me. Of course it was a big deal."
Despite the profound sadness, Jessie admitted to feeling a sense of relief that the agonising decision had been taken out of her hands. "The fact that the decision was made for us is a gift. A complete blessing," she said, acknowledging the complex duality of her emotions. This relief was partly tied to personal plans, including a breast augmentation procedure funded by her OnlyFans earnings, which she felt would have been complicated by a continued pregnancy.
Career Considerations and Public Scrutiny
The timing of the pregnancy presented significant professional challenges for both Jessie and Alfie. After years of career upheaval, including Alfie being "cancelled" in 2023 over historic material, their work was finally gaining momentum. Jessie expressed concern about informing her agent, fearing another pregnancy would delay her projects despite assurances to the contrary.
Her OnlyFans career, which she launched in March to address debts and fund home renovations, also factored into her concerns. Notably, Jessie's content on the platform focuses solely on her trademark long hair, explicitly avoiding nudity or sexual material. "I don't really want to do OnlyFans when I'm pregnant. I don't know the ethics of that," she mused, reflecting on the personal and public perceptions of her work during pregnancy.
A Reflection on Loss and Choice
Jessie Cave's story sheds light on the nuanced and often painful realities of pregnancy, loss, and reproductive decision-making. She emphasised that the experience of contemplating abortion is particularly poignant for those who are already parents. "I don't think it's easy for anyone to have an abortion, but I think it's probably slightly harder for people who've had kids because they know what they're losing," she shared, offering a perspective rarely discussed in public forums.
Her candid disclosure not only highlights her personal journey but also touches on broader themes of judgement, career pressures for women in the public eye, and the emotional complexities of family planning. By sharing her story, Jessie joins a growing conversation about miscarriage and reproductive health, offering solidarity to others who have faced similar challenges.
