The Game of Thrones actress said she is struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her mum after she drowned on holiday.
Gemma Whelan publicly shared for the first time that her mother, Sue, died while abroad a year ago, leaving the family devastated.
The 45-year-old GoT and Gentleman Jack star opened up about the tragedy on her Instagram page as she paid tribute to her mum.
Whelan, who played Yara Greyjoy in the hit HBO series, admitted that the past year has been ‘b***dy awful’ following the loss and grief.
The Leeds-born actress wrote in the post on the anniversary of her ‘mighty’ mum’s death: ‘It has been a year since we had the catastrophic shock that our brilliant bright mum had drowned abroad.
‘There’s such a big hole in me now, but most people wouldn’t know, and while I place this carefully here, my intention is really to address the profound solitude and loneliness of a sudden tragic shocking death, where quite rightly and happily many people do not experience it and therefore can’t relate.
‘Although I fully acknowledge grief is different for everyone.’
She continued: ‘I suppose I’m looking to say that if you’re in a similar position of sudden loss and reeling from shock, as I continue to, you’re not alone.
‘What terrible things we can endure, and be ok in the not ok.
‘I don’t think this too shall ever pass but I have excellent friends and family and support and I forge forward with positivity and hope that the hole fills a little year on year with good memories of her and new memories with my kids.’
Whelan, a mother of two, said she still tries to call her own mum from time to time, or take pictures ‘thinking she’ll love them and then remember.’
‘It’s b***dy awful,’ she continued.
‘However, I am also happy and fulfilled and smiling for real most of the time. It just catches me out.’
Whelan, who is also known for her appearance in Killing Eve, The Tower and The End of the F*****g World, posted the honest caption with a photo of a serene lake.
She continued: ‘The photo is where some of her is scattered in her native Canada, the rest will go with my dad in a river in the Lake District when no one is looking as apparently it’s illegal to scatter willy nilly, but she’d love it if we got caught, forever the rebel. Love you mum.’
Whelan started her career in stand-up comedy and earned recognition for her Chastity Butterworth character alongside TV and film appearances since 2010.
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