Jill Freud Dies at 98 After Inspiring Lucy in C.S. Lewis’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’

Jill Freud passed away on November 24, 2025, at her home in London, England, at the age of 98. The British actress and academic served as the real-life muse for Lucy Pevensie, the youngest protagonist in C.S. Lewis’s seven-book ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ series. Her death marks the end of an era for literary history, as she embodied the innocent curiosity that defined one of fantasy’s most enduring child characters.

Born Gillian Parr on January 28, 1927, in Wimbledon, London, Freud grew up in a family of educators and artists. She met C.S. Lewis in the early 1950s through Oxford University circles, where he lectured on English literature. Lewis, then 56, drew direct inspiration from the 25-year-old Freud’s wide-eyed wonder and intellectual spark during their conversations on myth and storytelling.

Freud’s resemblance to Lucy extended beyond personality; Lewis described her as having “the face of a child who has seen angels.” This influence shaped Lucy’s arc across the novels, from ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’—published in 1950—to ‘The Last Battle’ in 1956. The series has sold over 120 million copies worldwide and spawned three major film adaptations between 2005 and 2010, grossing $1.6 billion globally.

In a 2010 interview with The Guardian, Lewis’s stepson Douglas Gresham recalled Freud’s visits to the family’s Kilns home in Oxford. “Jill brought a lightness to Jack [Lewis’s nickname] that mirrored Lucy’s faith,” Gresham said. Freud maintained a lifelong friendship with Lewis until his death in 1963, corresponding on theology and theater.

Freud’s acting career spanned four decades, beginning with stage work at the Old Vic Theatre in 1948. She debuted on screen in the 1952 film ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ directed by Anthony Asquith, playing a supporting role opposite Michael Redgrave. Her television credits included appearances in BBC adaptations of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1958) and ‘Middlemarch’ (1968), where she portrayed nuanced period characters.

Married twice, Freud first wedded economist Walter Sheasby in 1955, with whom she had two children before their 1970 divorce. In 1972, she married Lucian Freud, the renowned painter and her third cousin, in a union that lasted until his death in 2011. The couple collaborated informally; Lucian painted her portrait ‘Girl in a Striped Nightshirt’ in 1983-85, now held in the Tate Modern collection.

Her academic pursuits complemented her artistic life. Freud earned a degree in English from Somerville College, Oxford, in 1948—the same institution attended by Lewis’s wife, Joy Davidman. She later taught literature at the University of London from 1965 to 1985, specializing in 19th-century fantasy and children’s fiction.

Freud rarely discussed her Narnia connection publicly, preferring privacy amid the series’ growing fame. In a 2005 BBC documentary, she reflected, “I was simply a young woman asking questions; Jack turned those into a world.” Her influence persisted subtly; the 2005 Disney film version of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ consulted her notes for Lucy’s characterization, played by Georgie Henley.

Survivors include her two children, four grandchildren, and extended family from both marriages. No public memorial has been announced, but the C.S. Lewis Foundation plans a tribute reading from ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ in Oxford on December 10, 2025.

Freud’s later years focused on philanthropy, supporting literacy programs through the Narnia Trust, which she co-founded in 1980. The organization has donated over £2 million to UK schools for fantasy literature access. Her passing coincides with renewed interest in Lewis’s works, fueled by a forthcoming HBO prequel series announced in October 2025.

The ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ endures as a cornerstone of children’s literature, translated into 47 languages. Freud’s unassuming role as its human spark underscores the series’ blend of autobiography and imagination. Industry observers note her story as a rare bridge between literary creation and personal legacy.