Felicity Kendal has opened up about life and loss, three years on from the death of her late partner Michael Rudman. The actress also spoke about her stint in The Good Life
Felicity Kendal is reflecting on her life and loss – three years on from the death of her late partner Michael Rudman.
The Good Life actress split from her theatre director husband in 1991 before divorcing three years later. Despite their split, the pair rekindled things and remained partners until his sad death just over three years ago.
For the actress, grief has been all consuming at times but she is slowly trying to get used to her “changing everyday”.
“I think it is very, very important [to have a support network]. I mean it has been three years now, so it’s moved [on] from being really all-consuming. Even though you try not to show it, it sort of takes over every aspect of your life, missing that person that was part of your every day. So the everyday changes,” she explains.
“He was so loved by everybody and the kids and everything, so that has got us all through… the first year probably is ‘What do I put in place because I’m not the same person any more?’. You think, ‘I’m of less value because I’ve only got half of me’ and then you realise you have a chance now at another life and you have to have a different routine.”
Felicity’s career is still going strong after seven decades in the industry. She started her career in Love Story in the 60s before being approached to star in The Good Life as Barbara Good, a role she held for all four series.
Reflecting on the programme’s legacy, Felicity said it was “blessing” of a job despite her going through a divorce and separation at the time. “On the other hand there was this incredible group of people who were writing and directing and acting in The Good Life,” she says, “It used to be [people saying to me] ‘I was in love with you’ and now it’s ‘My grandfather was in love with you’! I think [The Good Life] just made people smile.”
Felicity shares a son each with her former husbands – Charley from her first marriage to actor Drewe Henley and barrister Jacob from her marriage to Michael. Despite the tragedies that have faced her over the years, she’s desperate to enjoy life.
“I think life is so precious… I remember when my sister died years ago, one of the things that helped me was, ‘She’s not here, so I better not waste this.’ So I think that’s what I’m now feeling,” she says, “And it’s just about remembering the wonderful times rather than the sad times and that does happen, it’s a three-year journey.”
Felicity grew up in Solihull, Warwickshire, the daughter of actor Geoffrey Kendal. Her sister Jennifer was also an actress and they grew up together in India, where her father led his own theatre company on tours Her first role was Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at just nine months and she went on to perform as Puck in the same play years later at the age of 12.
After the success of Good Life and multiple TV and stage projects, Felicity – who also has a CBE for her services to drama – went on to star alongside Pam Ferris in hit drama Rosemary & Thyme. She even took part in Strictly in 2010, and has had guest roles in the likes of Ludwig and Rivals most recently.
When it comes to ageing in an industry like hers, Felicity doesn’t feel the pressure. She describes how when she was younger, she was conscious of her looks but now she’s past worrying about that.
“I really don’t think [the pressure to look a certain way] bothers me. I think I’m so old now, it’s okay. When I was much younger, I was very conscious of not being gorgeous…” she says.
“I felt that I should have been taller, I should have been more tanned, but this was when I was much younger. The thing is I don’t think I’m known for what I look like… I’ve never had that pressure in a sense… in theatre, it really doesn’t matter much.”
However, one thing she has decided to do is get a tattoo. She got her first inking – a little star on her left foot – at the age of 63 and later got a feather tattooed above her ankle.
“I really wasn’t drawn to [tattoos] and then I thought, I better try this before it’s too late… I was thinking about [getting more] the other day. I thought maybe now is the time to almost cover myself in tattoos because it doesn’t matter does it?” she says.
“So I have a feeling there’s one more in me. It would give me a private thrill, no one [else] would give a monkey’s! Michael [Rudman] didn’t know they were real because he didn’t like tattoos and he said, ‘They’re not real are they?’ and I said, ‘No, darling, I paint them on every morning.’ He wanted me to know he didn’t approve!”
For Felicity, her mantra is giving “control” back to the world.
“I’m in that kind of mindset really that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Things like the sadness of divorce, it leads you then to the next stage and you can’t say ‘I wish I hadn’t done that’ because then none of the good stuff would have happened, either,” she tells Prima.
“If there’s anything I’m trying to learn before it’s too late it’s that you are not in control, don’t cling on to this fantasy that we all have that we can control life and death and our lives, we can’t. There’s something else that always comes in when you think you’ve nailed it – then you get the tax bill!”
For now, Felicity is heading back to the stage once again to star in High Society, a musical starring Call The Midwife actress Helen George. Of working with the legendary actress, she says: “Helen George is absolutely adorable. She’s famously loved within our business and I’m loving working with her.
“She’s a glorious creation and it’s beautiful to watch her dancing and singing, so it is just great.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
