Brian Blessed, 87, candidly discusses his loneliness following the tragic death of beloved wife Hildegarde Neil and how he's bonded with fellow widower Sir Michael Palin, 81
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Brian Blessed has candidly discussed his loneliness following the tragic death of his wife of 45-years Hildegarde Neil last year after losing her battle with cancer.
The iconic actor, 87, said doing things alone has taken 'some getting used to' but feels 'Hildegarde's presence' in everything he does.
Speaking to The Times Brian said he's been leaning on friends for support, including fellow widower Sir Michael Palin, 81, who lost his also lost his wife of 57-years Helen Gibbins last year.
Telling the publication: 'I had a lovely chat with Michael Palin recently at the Royal Geographical Society, as he lost his wife last year too. I still feel my wife’s presence and continue the adventurous life we used to enjoy together'.
Brian, who shares daughter Rosalind with his late wife, also spoke about his home in leafy Surry and his army of RSPCA rescue dogs, gushing it was Hildegarde who taught him how to love animals.
Brian Blessed, 87, has candidly discussed his loneliness following the tragic death of his wife of 45-years Hildegarde Neil last year after losing her battle with cancer
The iconic actor said doing things alone has taken 'some getting used to' but feels 'Hildegarde's presence' in everything he does (pictured together in 1998)
Brian said he's been leaning on friends for support, including fellow widower Sir Michael Palin, 81, who also lost his also his wife of 57-years Helen Gibbins last year (Michael and Helen in 2015)
He said: 'Although eating alone takes some getting used to. I do feel quite lonely at times but I’ve got lots of friends to talk to'.
Hildegard, who died aged 84, was a distinguished actress who played Sir Roger Moore's wife in The Man Who Haunted Himself.
Meeting future husband Brian on the set of a television drama, Double Agent.
Following her death a family spokesman says she'd died 'after a long, brave fight against cancer and a heart condition'.
Brian previously said his 'wonderful' wife called him 'primitive' in the early days of their romance. But he insisted it was a compliment and a marker of 'total sophistication'.
The actor, who has climbed the world's highest mountain three times, said of Hildegard: 'It took greater courage to kiss her on the lips than it did to go up Everest.'
Meanwhile Sir Michael described his wife as the 'bedrock of his life'. The pair met aged 16 while on holiday with their parents and got married in their 20s, spending almost six decades together.
He said earlier this year that he struggles with the 'foreverness of it' and life without his lifelong companion feels 'unreal'.
He said: . I still feel my wife’s presence and continue the adventurous life we used to enjoy together' (pictured 1981)
Brian, who shares daughter Rosalind with his late wife, also spoke about his home in leafy Surry and his army of RSPCA rescue dogs, gushing it was Hildegarde who taught him how to love animals (pictured as a family in 1981)
Hildegard, who died aged 84, was a distinguished actress who played Sir Roger Moore's wife in The Man Who Haunted Himself (pictured 1960)
The couple had three children. She was 80 when she died on May 2, 2023 having battled with kidney failure for several years.
Elsewhere in the interview Brian shared a hilarious look into his Sunday regime which consistes of meeting celebs in his garden shed and eating a 'ton' of yogurt.
The Flash Gordon star then embarks on a daily seven-mile walk or jog and can bench press a whopping 300lbs, admitting he finds it 'intolerable' when people brand him 'old' claiming he is in fact 'ageless'.
After even more yogurt for lunch Brian works out at his home gym and then heads to his shed, having often invited a 'sporting or scientific champion' over for a chat.
Recalling a visit from the late Sir Stephen Hawking he claimed the scientist asked for advice about going into space after being offer the opportunity by Virgin Galactic.
Elsewhere in the interview Brian shared a hilarious look into his Sunday regime which consistes of meeting celebs in his garden shed and eating a 'ton' of yogurt
After even more yogurt for lunch Brian works out at his home gym and then heads to his shed, having often invited a 'sporting or scientific champion' over for a chat, with one visitor being sir Stephen Hawking (pictured in 2018)
Brian went on to say that he is 'quite antisocial' come evening time and doesn't go to dinner parties as he 'loves' his own company.
However fellow actor Kenneth Branagh, 63, is a frequent visitor and described their relationship as father and son before joking: 'I'm the son!'.
It comes after the star described himself as a 'Peter Pan', saying he'll never grown up and is encouraging other people do do the same.
Brian is adamant he feels just the same now as he did when he was a young child and is determined no one should retire, insisting: 'Death does not exist!'
He told the Mirror: 'I'm a child, I'll never grow up, I'm Peter Pan. I feel exactly now as I felt when I was five years of age.
'I'm sick to bloody death of people who make a pact with old age. Oh no, I'm not interested in that, what are you talking about? No, no, no, no.
'It's not about how old you are, it's about how you are old. Don't anybody ever retire! Do not embrace old age! It's crap! I haven't got time for that rubbish.'
He went on to state people know everything they know from thousands of years but can't find anyone who can tell him what death is like.
