Biography

Jill Freud

Jump to

Daughter of Henry Walter Flewett (1892-1970) and Winifred Johnson Flewett (1896-1967). Educated at Sacred Heart Convent School (R.C.), London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (1945-1947). After being evacuated with her school to Oxford during the war, became a volunteer housekeeper and hen-keeper in the household of C.S. Lewis, several times deferring her acceptance of a place at RADA. Founded Jill Freud and Company (1980), a non-profit repertory company. In 2001 received an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of East Anglia "for services to the theatre." Married writer Clement Freud, grandson of Sigmund Freud, 4 September 1950. Clement later became M.P. for the Isle of Ely 1973-1987, was knighted in 1987, and became rector of St. Andrew's University 2003. With his knighthood, Jill Freud became "Lady Freud."
- IMDb mini biography by: PFSChaffner

In 1943 Jill was evacuated from London to avoid the air raids and sent to stay with C.S. Lewis at his Risinghurst home The Kilns, originally for three weeks but ultimately staying for 18 months. She was widely believed to be the inspiration for Lucy Pevensie in his first Narnia story of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", and also for Jane Studdock, heroine of his sci-fi novel "That Hideous Strength".
During Covid, aged 93, locked up with 3 other Freud gals, she took part in a tap class every morning.
Mother-in-law of Richard Curtis.
She was highly regarded in the household of C.S. Lewis and in a letter to Flewett's mother, Winifred, on 4 January 1945, he said: "I have never really met anything like her unselfishness and patience and kindness and shall feel deeply in her debt as long as I live.".
Her favourite writer was C. S. Lewis and initially she had no idea she was living in a house with the same man. She developed what she later called a "tremendous crush" on Lewis.

Suggest an edit or add missing content