Richard E Grant reflects on the 'incredible' joy of becoming a grandfather after his wife's death and says it has taught him 'not to waste time on stuff'

Richard E Grant has shared that becoming a grandfather has taught him 'not to waste time on stuff', after the tragic death of his wife Joan.

In June, the actor, 69, emotionally shared his daughter Olivia had given birth to a baby boy, and has now reflected on the 'incredible' joy of welcoming the new addition to his family.

Richard said he's learned the value of his life since welcoming his grandson, after suffering the pain of his wife's passing.

Joan died in September 2021 at the age of 74 after a battle with lung cancer.  

He said: 'What everybody will tell you about becoming a grandparent is that the parents do all the nappy changing, feeding, they do all that. I'm spared having to be up all night, which I would love. I'm just handed the baby. I get the best of it.

'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.'

Speaking to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Richard added that he's begun to think 'forwardly' since the arrival of his grandson.

He added: 'A grandchild underlines your own mortality but that's a good thing because you don't waste time on stuff. You have a finite amount of time ahead of you.'

Richard shared after his wife's death, his daughter Olivia and her husband Florian Wirst moved in with him at his west London home, and despite leaving the property several years ago, they went on to ask if they could return.

Calling seeing Olivia become a mother 'the most fulfilling thing,' Richard admitted it has been 'impossible to get his head around' the idea that Joan will never hold her grandson. 

The Oscar nominee has spoken openly about the grief of Joan's death, and shared in the interview he still writes to her every evening.

On Sunday, Richard shared a glimpse of a star-studded dinner he'd celebrated at his west London home, which saw some of the biggest names in acting in attendance.

The star shared a photo on Instagram that featured guests including his daughter Olivia, Christine Baranski, Steve Martin, Sir Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Short and his son Henry.

Richard tearfully shared in June that he had become a grandfather for the first time, after Olivia gave birth to a baby boy. 

The Saltburn star, shared an emotional video on Instagram, filmed in his car as he waited for his daughter Olivia to give birth nearby. By the time he had returned home, the baby - a little boy - had been born.

'So extraordinary to become a grandfather. I'm so grateful for the safe arrival of our grandson. Life truly is miraculous,' he said in the clip.

Richard did not disclose the name of the newborn, whose father is Olivia's husband, financier Florian Wirst.

It came five years after the Oscar-nominated actor lost his wife of 35 years, dialect coach Joan Washington, to lung cancer. 

She died aged 74, just eight months after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer two days before Christmas.

In his heart-rending video, Richard also shared sweet throwback photos of when his daughter Olivia was a baby. 

'Reflecting on the passage of time from our daughter's birth to her becoming a mother herself!! Is there a feeling any more tender than this?' he wrote.

The post was flooded with congratulations. Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, who starred with Richard in TV's The Kumars at No. 42 and Mumbai Calling, commented: 'Wowsers. Huge congrats granddad. And to Olivia and Florian. And a huge welcome to the new addition!'

One eagle-eyed fan added: 'Love how you say 'our' not 'my'... she's still his Grandma from up in the sky.' Another wrote: 'I'm so happy for you. But I know these happy days can be really bittersweet. You long to share it with them.'

Richard and Joan met in 1982 at the Actors Centre in Covent Garden, where she was teaching. She was ten years his senior and at the top of her profession, while he was a struggling young actor newly arrived from Swaziland, now Eswatini.

The couple married in 1986 and went on to have their daughter, Olivia.

Their journey to parenthood was not an easy one. The couple endured the heartbreak of losing their first child together, who died shortly after birth, and Joan suffered multiple miscarriages.

But she was determined they would keep trying – and Olivia's arrival was the gift that completed their family.

When Joan died in 2021, Richard announced her death with a moving video of the pair dancing together, writing at the time of his love for the 'Giver of Life to our daughter Olivia'.

In the years since, the actor has been remarkably candid about his grief. He has spoken of crying every single day, of writing to Joan every night, and of carrying on what he calls an 'ongoing silent conversation' with the woman he describes as the love of his life.

Earlier this year, Richard revealed the bittersweet detail that, a month before she died, Joan had gone through every single woman they knew – 'like a lioness' – listing reasons he shouldn't date any of them. 'And I knew how much she loved me by doing that,' he said.

He has remained open about the prospect of love again, telling Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast in March that while pals have set him up on dates, he has 'no inclination whatsoever' and is 'not consciously looking'.

Asked if he would feel guilty, he said simply: 'No.'

His focus is firmly on family. The actor revealed two years ago that Olivia and her husband Florian, whom she married in a home ceremony in 2024, had moved in with him, joking that he had become the household 'concierge', doing most of the shopping and cooking.