Inside the colourful life of Richard E. Grant: From battling childhood trauma and unbearable grief t

Richard E Grant is currently battling heartbreak as he grieves the loss of his mother Leonne Esterhuysen. 

He revealed in a social media post on Thursday that his mother had died aged 93, sharing a video in which he reflected on their 'complicated' relationship.

The actor, 66, is no stranger to tragedy, having dealt with traumatic abuse during his childhood and losing his beloved wife Joan to cancer. 

Yet the Swazi-English actor has cemented his place as one of Britain's favourite actors, winning over fans with his talent and vibrant personality. 

Now, MailOnline takes a look back at the colourful life of Richard E. Grant.  

Inside the colourful life of Richard E. Grant: How the star went from battling childhood trauma and unbearable grief to becoming one of Britain's most beloved actors

Early life and sibling rivalry 

Grant was born as Richard Grant Esterhuysen on May 5, 1957 in Mbabane, Protectorate of Swaziland (now known as Eswatini). 

He grew up in Africa as the son of Leonne and Henrik Esterhuysen alongside his younger brother Stuart, an accountant in Johannesburg, from whom he is estranged. 

Grant has stated that they 'never had any relationship' adding 'We never had anything in common.' 

In 2005, Stuart launched a public attack on the actor, accusing him of being a 'liar, a fraud and a bad actor', to which Grant responded: 'It's pure sibling jealously. I never had any relationship with my brother.'

Witnessing his mother's affair 

Grant has revealed that as a child he accidentally witnessed his mother and her secret lover together, and his parents' marriage broke down years later.

On Desert Island Discs last year he said: 'I inadvertently witnessed my mother bonking my father’s best friend on the front seat of a car late one evening.

'We were coming back from a cricket match and I was obviously asleep on the back seat and then woke up to the rhythmic movements of the car, which is something that you can well imagine! 

'I tried God and got no response. I obviously couldn’t tell my father or my mother or my friends, so to try to understand what had happened I started keeping a diary.

'And it’s continued to be something I’ve done every day to make sense of the world that I live in.'

Grant and his mother were estranged for many years before reconciling. 

Childhood: Grant was born as Richard Grant Esterhuysen on May 5, 1957 in Mbabane, Protectorate of Swaziland, now known as Eswatini (pictured at the age of seven) 

Seeing his father spiral into alcoholism 

After his mother's affair, Grant watched his father slip into alcoholic despair, and then was brutalised by him. 

‘It was traumatic, but I think if you’re optimistic by nature that’s something you don’t have any control over,' he told the Daily Mail in 2014. 'So I never thought I was going to go under. I think it’s enormously lucky to have that in your life.’ 

Discussing his father's alcoholism years before, he told the Daily Mail in 2007: 'There was a lot of pressure on me. I ended up parenting my parent, so I was forced to grow up before my time.'

One night, his father tried to shoot him.

'The bullet whistled past my head. Luckily, he then passed out. He didn't remember it the next day.' 

Henrik died of cancer in 1981. 

Grant has previously said of his death: 'It is a recurring regret that he never lived to see me succeed beyond university and drama.' 

He honours his late father by wearing two watches, the first set to Greenwich Meantime (GMT), and the second, which was gifted to him by Henrik, is permanently set to Swaziland time. 

Tragic: Grant has revealed that as a child he accidentally witnessed his mother and her secret lover together, and his parents' marriage broke down years later (pictured: Richard's parents Leonne and Henrik Esterhuysen)

Moving away to pursue acting 

After attending secondary school at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, an independent school near Mbabane, he went on to study English and drama at the University of Cape Town.

He decided to pursue acting as a career when he moved to Britain in 1982, adopting his stage name Richard E. Grant and registering with Equity.

Grant made his film debut as Withnail in the 1987 comedy Withnail and went on to land supporting roles in the likes of L.A. Story, The Player, Bram Stokers Dracula, The Age of Innocence, The Portrait of a Lady, Spice World and Penelope.

Rubbing shoulders with A-listers 

Grant received critical acclaim for his role in Marielle Heller's 2018 drama Can You Ever Forgive Me? where he starred alongside Melissa McCarthy. 

The role earned him various awards including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. 

He also received Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. 

Grant made no secret of the fact that he was delighted to be surrounded by Hollywood heavyweights at the ceremonies, cosying up to the likes of Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Rami Malek and Rachel Weisz for selfies, which he promptly posted on Twitter.  

He was up against Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born), Sam Rockwell (Vice) and Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman) for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and while he ultimately lost out to Ali he didn't let that ruin his evening, hunting down more celebrities for snaps. 

Hobnobbing with A-listers: Grant attended the Oscar Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles and was sure to meet all of the A-listers in attendance - including Lady Gaga

Snap snap: Spike Lee, Glenn Close [pictured], Amy Adams, Willem Dafoe, Viggo Mortensen and Laura Dern were also all in attendance - with Richard promptly making a beeline for them

The death of his beloved wife Joan 

Grant was left devastated when his wife Joan Washington, a renowned dialect coach, died after a battle with cancer in September 2021 aged 74.

He announced the news by releasing a heartbreaking video of the pair dancing together. 

Richard wrote: 'ONLY YOU! Joan - Love of my Life & Giver of Life to our daughter Olivia.

'Our hearts are broken with the loss of your Life last night. 35 years married & 38 together.

'To be truly known and seen by you, is your immeasurable gift. Do not forget us, sweet Monkee-mine.'

The pair had overcome tragedy in their life and spoke publicly about how their first child together sadly died after just half an hour.

Joan had suffered multiple miscarriages but had been determined they would keep trying after seeing how good her husband had been with her son from a previous relationship Tom.

Then in 1989 she fell pregnant with daughter Olivia after telling him 'Fatherhood suits you. You're very good at it'.

Heartbreaking: Richard's wife Joan Washington, a vocal coach, died in September 2021 eight months after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer

Hosting the BAFTAs 

In February, Grant was given the honour of hosting the 2023 BAFTAs alongside Alison Hammond, with the pair praised by viewers who branded them a 'dream team'.

While Grant took to the main stage This Morning's Alison, 48, interviewed stars behind the scenes. 

The duo oozed confidence as they led proceedings and enjoyed a giggle or two during the ceremony. 

During his opening monologue, Grant left the audience in hysterics as he referenced Will Smith's infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars, telling audiences that 'on my watch no one gets slapped tonight'.

Smith stormed onto the stage during the 94th annual Academy Awards in March and slapped presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

The actor, who went on to win the coveted best actor Oscar moments later, was later banned from all Academy events for the next 10 years and resigned from the organisation.

Speaking at the BAFTAs, Grant said that the only slaps being received during his show would be 'on the back'.

Hosts: In February, Grant was given the honour of hosting the 2023 BAFTAs alongside Alison Hammond, with the pair praised by viewers who branded them a 'dream team'

The death of his mother 

On Thursday, Grant revealed his mother Leonne Esterhuysen had died, sharing a Twitter video he captioned: 'Complicated gratitude to my Mother, who died this morning at the age of 93, for giving me the Gift of Life.'

In the video, Grant said his mother had passed away in Africa while he was filming, and described her as 'emotionally withdrawn'.

He added that she 'withheld her approval of anything' and he felt 'resignation' after her death, but ended his reflection by expressing gratitude that she 'gave him life'.

Grant told his followers: 'During a filming break this morning, I saw that I had eight missed calls from Africa and knew immediately why, which proved to be that my 93-year-old mother died this morning.

'We had an incredibly complicated relationship and she was somebody that was, for me anyway, emotionally withdrawn and withheld her approbation or approval of anything.

'So nothing was ever quite good enough, but what that proved to be was a great motor for ambition and determination to try and prove yourself be the best you possibly can. 

'And yet ironically, whatever she demanded, she got. Applause and approval from everybody around her, including me.

'I went to stay with her for a couple of weeks, six weeks after my wife had died, with Covid restrictions being lifted, and she sent me a very terse email at the end of the trip saying, ''I regret to say your visit was an absolute disaster, we only have two things in common, books and classical music".

'So whereas she was very physically untactile, I've gone the opposite extreme, and been a very tactile and loving father and husband, I suppose in response to that.

'Do I feel sadness that she has died? I feel resignation more than anything. But most of all gratitude for having given me life.'

Sad news: On Thursday, Grant revealed his mother Leonne Esterhuysen had died. The pair had a complicated relationship after he witnessed her affair 

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