Former EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny has opened up about the immense pain she experienced following the sudden death of her partner, Matt Janes, due to a heart attack. The 50-year-old star, originally from Gateshead, also shared the tragic loss of her father to a similar heart attack when she was just four years old.
In a recent interview, Jill spoke about how she has been dealing with the compounded grief of losing Matt in 2017. She emphasized the importance of trying to channel her emotions into something positive as a way to cope with the loss.
Known for her role as Nicola Dobson in the popular TV series Byker Grove, Jill recounted the moment she found out about Matt’s passing during a gym session when he didn’t return home on time. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Matt could not be saved.
Reflecting on the aftermath of Matt’s death, Jill shared that her first call was to her mother, being mindful of triggering her mother’s own grief. She described the journey of healing and communication with loved ones as a process of creating space around the grief rather than diminishing it.
Jill, who has appeared in TV dramas such as The Cuckoo, The Drowning, and Everything I Know About Love, revealed that she and Matt were planning to have a baby before his untimely death. She currently shares a relationship with Ian McAllister, fulfilling a promise Matt once made to her about finding love again.
In 2024, speaking about her bond with Ian, Jill expressed gratitude for meeting him at the right time after the tragedy of losing Matt. She described Ian as her supporter and someone she deeply loves.
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