Little Voice star Jane Horrocks admits feeling ‘orphaned’ on new episode of podcast
Press release published
Jane Horrocks, the actor best known for Absolutely Fabulous and Little Voice, has described feeling ‘orphaned’ and ‘redundant as a daughter’ with what she considers the loss of both her parents – when she appeared on the latest episode of the podcast series ‘On the Marie Curie Couch’.
Jane’s father died eight years ago and her mother is living with Alzheimer’s disease, although is no longer able to recognise her daughter or care for herself.
Speaking on the latest episode of the podcast series, from the end of life care charity Marie Curie (recorded before the coronavirus emergency), Jane describes how she will catch herself speaking about her mother in the past tense. Overwhelming feelings of being ‘rootless and desperate to find something grounding’ has also led her to make a number of recent changes in her life.
Jane, who will star in new Sky 1 series Bloods out later this year, admits confronting her own mortality has had the positive effect of encouraging her to have conversations with her children to put her in an actors nursing home, write her Will and make funeral plans. End of life care planning wasn’t something she was able to do with her parents, which she puts down to their generation’s fear of morbid conversations.
She shares: “I don’t fear death. I don’t mind talking about it. I believe that you have to have a life of quality, not quantity. Look at someone like David Bowie, what a legacy!
“I think sometimes the sadness of someone departing can overtake on the joy of their life.”
In a wide-ranging conversation with podcast host Jason Davidson, a bereavement specialist, Jane also reveals how she hopes her career will help her stave off dementia by constantly having to learn lines.
In a lighter moment she shares her choice for an epitaph: “Tick, and job done.”
In response to the coronavirus crisis Marie Curie has launched an emergency appeal for funds. Donate today, online at: mariecurie.org.uk/emergency or text NURSE to 70633 to help us reach the families who need us. Texts cost £5 plus 1 standard rate message. 98% is received by Marie Curie. To unsub text OUT to 78866.
Jane Horrocks’ ‘On the Marie Curie Couch’ episode will be available from 15 April to download from ACast, iTunes or wherever you listen to or download your podcasts, you can also listen at mariecurie.org.uk/talkabout/podcast
Notes to editor
For more information, please contact Adam Orr, Media and PR Manager at Marie Curie on adam.orr@mariecurie.org.uk or call 07469 993 215.
Full transcript available upon request
Notes to Editor
Marie Curie has also revamped its award-winning blog with a brand-new site Talkabout, and produced a special deck of conversation cards designed to help friends and families open up about their plans.
To further help people start thinking, sharing and planning for the end of life, the charity has launched the first ever nationwide TV advert to break down the taboo around death and dying - ‘Whatever you call it, we should all talk about it’
Marie Curie – care and support through terminal illness
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance. Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
If you are in need of support, or have any questions about any aspect of terminal illness, call the Marie Curie Information & Support Line free on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/help.