The last dance
Heartbroken Richard E Grant shares poignant video clip as his wife of 35 years dies aged 71
RICHARD E GRANT has told of his heartbreak over the death of his beloved wife of 35 years, posting a clip online of them dancing.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 64, revealed that acclaimed dialect coach Joan Washington died on Thursday night aged 71.
The couple met in 1983 when they worked together at the Actors’ Centre in London and married in 1986.
One of the film world’s rare marital success stories, they were devoted to each other and had a daughter, Olivia. Grant was also stepfather to Miss Washington’s son Tom from a previous relationship.
In a poignant tribute yesterday, Grant shared a clip of the couple dancing to Only You by The Platters on Instagram. ‘ONLY YOU! Joan – Love of my Life, giver of Life to our daughter Olivia. Our hearts are broken with the loss of your Life last night,’ he wrote.
‘35 years married and 38 together. To be truly known and seen by you, is your immeasurable gift. Do not forget us, sweet Monkee-mine.’
Their daughter Olivia, who is a casting director, shared a series of tributes to her mother from stars she had worked with over the years.
Oscar-nominated American actress Jessica Chastain tweeted: ‘My heart is broken. Joan Washington had such a profound impact on me, yes as an artist, but mostly as a woman. I’ve looked toward her. Her strive towards excellence made her the celebrated dialect coach she was.’
Comedian and actress Dawn French posted: ‘Joan Washington will always be remembered by those of us who knew her and were taught by her, as a phenomenal woman.’
Musical theatre star Elaine Paige said: ‘It’s heartbreaking to hear of Joan Washington’s passing. She was special both as a teacher and as a friend. Never to be forgotten.’
Actor Jason Watkins wrote: ‘Joan taught me dialects and accents when I trained at Rada and beyond. I have made my career using accents and dialects. I owe her everything. Such a terrible loss.’
Miss Washington, from Aberdeen, trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and had nearly 40 years of experience in the film industry as a voice and dialect coach, working with stars including Barbra Streisand, Anne Hathaway and Vanessa Redgrave.
Recent work included 2018 Oscar-winner The Favourite with Emma Stone.
In 2011 Grant spoke about their first meeting at the Actors’ Centre. ‘She was wearing a boiler suit and had fairly short, cropped hair and Kicker shoes, and was chain-smoking, which I thought was insane,’ he told The Independent.
‘She was teaching an accent session with a bunch of actors, and I thought she had the most wonderful voice and huge, sort of monkey eyes. She seemed fairly frenetic. I thought that she was really cute and all that.’
‘I owe her everything’