Hollywood star Sir Mark Rylance was seen looking happy as he posed on the red carpet alongside his girlfriend Amanda Parker 18 months after his wife of 40 years passed away
Sir Mark Rylance appears to have found happiness again 18 months after he was left devastated by the death of his wife of nearly 40 years. The actor was widowed when composer Claire van Kampen, 71, died following a brave battle with cancer.
Now Mark, 66, has been seen with his new partner, a glamorous charity boss who has reportedly helped to support him through the grief of losing Claire. Amanda Parker, 57, is also known to work as an arts and culture consultant and model.
She was snapped joining the Wolf Hall star on the red carpet of the premiere of new Steven Spielberg sci-fi film Disclosure Day last week. The pair were see holding hands at the glamorous event in London’s Leicester Square on Friday, June 12.
Mark was left heartbroken when Claire passed away on his 65th birthday, on January 18 2025. She died in the German town of Kassel surrounded by her family after being diagnosed with cancer, a statement shared on behalf of Sir Mark and her daughter Juliet confirmed at the time.
Van Kampen was a concert pianist, composer, playwright, theatre director and worked in various roles at Shakespeare’s Globe for around 20 years. She was also described as “one of the funniest and (most) inspiring women we have ever known”, in the statement.
It added: “We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love. Ring the bell, sound the trumpets reverie, something is done, something is beginning. One of the great wise ones has passed.”
The announced, signed from “Mark and Juliet Rylance” continued to share: “Claire has died of cancer on Mark Rylance’s 65th birthday.
“Her youngest daughter having died in 2012, she leaves her eldest daughter Juliet Rylance, her eldest daughter, Juliet Rylance, her two husbands, and countless beloved friends in England and America.”
Paying tribute to Van Kampen on Twitter (X), The Royal Shakespeare Company wrote: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Claire van Kampen today. Our thoughts are with Claire’s family and friends at this time. Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans share this message.”
The message from the directors read: “Claire was a true genius, not only in her music but also in her understanding of Shakespeare and of the relationship between actor, audience, text, music and silence in so many forms of storytelling.
“Her score for Pericles this season was a thing of wonder and beauty, which captivated audiences at the Swan and in Chicago alike. The world is a far more beautiful place for having had her in it. Our thoughts are with all those, near and far, who were lucky enough to know her.”
Van Kampen was previously married to architect Christopher van Kampen, with whom she had two daughters Juliet and Nataasha. Her youngest daughter Nataasha, a filmmaker, died aged 28 in 2012 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
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