A Painful Rupture
Richard E. Grant has spoken candidly about the friends he has cut out of his life following the death of his wife, Joan Washington, in 2021. In an interview with Sunday Times magazine, the actor said he has no intention of reconciling with those who failed to support him during his loss.
Grant, who has previously shared that some acquaintances avoided reaching out during Washington's illness, explained that he holds firm views on loyalty. "I'm very unequivocal, black and white, all or nothing," he said. "I've tried to go for the grey areas but it's not succeeded for very long. There are people that have been edited out of my life and I will never see them again."
He added: "If I had done that to them, I wouldn't be able to look them in the face." When asked whether he could forgive these friends if they had good intentions, Grant was resolute: "No, portcullis down. Goodbye."
Finding Joy in Family
Amid the grief, Grant has found new happiness. He now lives with his daughter, her husband, and their newborn baby — an arrangement that began during the pandemic. He joked that the living situation has reversed roles, with him now occupying what used to be his daughter's part of the home.
Grant described becoming a grandfather as deeply moving. "Seeing your child become the parent of their child is … how do you quantify that? It is the most fulfilling thing to see," he said.
Reflecting on the cycle of life, he added: "I've felt that overwhelming thing that you're part of the cycle of life. You've gone through death and now there's a birth. I instantly thought, how many Christmases will I have to share with the grandchild? That's the thing that galvanises you — how many years of life you have left."
At 69, Grant is mindful of mortality. "I'm 69 — the oldest man in showbusiness — so I'm hoping for another 31 years, but the likelihood of that is slim," he said. "A grandchild underlines your own mortality but that's a good thing because you don't waste time on stuff."