Actor Richard E Grant sat quietly in London’s St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden as renowned sculptor Frances Segelman worked on a live clay bust of his head. The event, held before a West End audience, featured the 69-year-old actor maintaining a still and serious pose while Segelman aimed to complete a life-size sculpture within two hours. Known for her portraits of prominent figures including King Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Judi Dench, Segelman brought her expertise to the artistic challenge at the venue affectionately called the Actors’ Church due to its ties to the theatre community.
Grant, recognized for his roles in films such as *Withnail and I* and *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*, where he earned an Oscar nomination, also used the occasion to highlight a charitable cause. He disclosed that proceeds from the sculpting event would benefit Longfield Hospice in Gloucestershire, which provided voluntary palliative care to his late wife Joan Washington during her final days in 2021. Grant praised the hospice for their support, recalling that in Joan’s last 10 days, carers visited three times daily to assist both Joan and their family.
Grant spoke openly about his ongoing grief following Joan’s death after 38 years together, 35 of them married. He said Joan had encouraged him and their daughter Olivia to seek “pockets of happiness” amid their sorrow. Beyond his four-decade acting career, Grant expressed that his greatest pride and fulfillment come from his roles as husband and father. He currently resides in Petersham, southwest London, with Olivia, his son-in-law Florian, and his grandchild.
Despite his high profile—further boosted by a recent appearance on BBC One’s *Celebrity Traitors*, watched by some 10 million viewers—Grant revealed he often travels around London on public transit, appreciating the convenience of free bus and Tube passes funded by taxpayers. Reflecting humorously on the show, he admitted that revealing himself as a Traitor was a “completely catastrophically idiotic” move but acknowledged he did not regret his decision, noting the nature of the game leaves viewers grasping for any clues in its early stages.
Born in 1957 in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to expatriate parents, Grant experienced a difficult childhood and moved to the UK in 1982 carrying little more than two suitcases and a Sony Walkman. His breakthrough came with his portrayal of the edgy title character in *Withnail and I* in 1987, which led to further roles in Hollywood productions including *Bram Stoker’s Dracula*, *The Age of Innocence*, and *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*. Although there has been speculation about a sequel to *Withnail and I*, Grant dismissed the idea, citing the death of Vivian MacKerrell, the man on whom the original character was based, and the creator’s resistance to continuing the story.
As Segelman completed the bust, capturing Grant’s distinctive features and hair with remarkable detail, the evening underscored both the actor’s commitment to charitable work and the continued admiration for his career in film and television. Segelman herself is a specialist in sculpting prominent figures and has worked with a wide array of celebrities and royalty, including sittings before live audiences, underscoring the significance of this London event.