Jill Freud, the real-life inspiration behind Narnia’s Lucy, dies at 98

Jill Freud, whose early life helped inspire one of literature’s most beloved characters and whose later work shaped regional British theatre, has died at the age of 98. Known both for her brief appearance in Love Actually and for her connection to C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, Freud lived a life that intersected with some of the twentieth century’s most influential cultural moments.

Born June Flewett in 1927 in London, she was evacuated during the Second World War and sent to live in Oxford at The Kilns, the home of author C. S. Lewis. She and her sister were taken in by Lewis and his brother during the war years, and her time there is believed to have played a role in inspiring the character of Lucy Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Though Lewis never directly confirmed the extent of that influence, those close to the household noted similarities between the young June’s personality and the qualities seen in Lucy.

Rather than define herself by that connection, Freud dedicated her life to the performing arts on her own terms. After training as an actress, she adopted the stage name Jill Raymond and later Jill Freud, appearing in theatre productions across Britain before turning her focus to building creative spaces for others. She founded two repertory companies in Suffolk, where she became a significant figure in regional theatre for more than three decades.

Under her leadership, the companies supported young performers, writers and directors, offering opportunities outside London’s more exclusive stages. She worked as an actress, director, producer and organiser, helping build an environment that valued consistency, mentorship and artistic discipline. While many of her contemporaries pursued national recognition, Freud invested in local arts communities and long-term creative development.

In later years, she made a small screen appearance as the housekeeper at 10 Downing Street in the 2003 film Love Actually. Though brief, the role connected her to a film that would go on to become a modern British classic and introduced her, even subtly, to a new generation of viewers.

Jill Freud’s significance lies less in fame than in the breadth of her influence. A child shaped by the upheaval of war, a woman who worked for decades in regional theatre, and a figure linked to stories that continue to shape the imagination of millions, she occupied a unique and understated place in British cultural history.

Her life spanned nearly a century of change in literature, performance and society. In remembering her, we are reminded that behind some of the most enduring stories are real people whose contributions may go unnoticed in the moment, but leave lasting traces in the world they helped shape.