Gemma Whelan shares secret personal tragedy
Gemma Whelan has revealed her mother tragically drowned while on holiday last year.
Gemma Whelan's mother drowned on holiday last year.
The Game of Thrones actress - who is best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy drama series - opened up about the tragedy as she reflected on her grief a year on from the "catastrophic shock" of losing her beloved mum Sue.
She wrote on Instagram: "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.
"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."
The 45-year-old star - who has two children with husband Gerry Howell - is grateful for the support she has around her and is trying to focus on the positives in her life.
She continued: "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.
"I still go to call her, I still take photos thinking she'll love them and then remember. It's bloody awful.
"However, I am also happy and fulfilled and smiling for real most of the time.
"It just catches me out."
Gemma's reflective post was accompanied by a scenic photograph of a lake, where she explained some of her mum's ashes had been scattered.
She wrote: "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. X (sic)"
