Actor John Michie has been announced as the new ambassador for a charity that supports grieving parents, less than a year after the death of his daughter.
The Holby City star’s daughter Louella was found dead in a wooded area on the edge of the Bestival music festival site at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, in September, at the age of 25.
His partnership with The Good Grief Project, an organisation that helps families who are dealing with the death of a loved one – particularly a child – will see him support a new documentary film on bereavement.
He will attend the UK premiere of A Love That Never Dies, created in association with the charity and directed by husband and wife team Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds, who have coped with the loss of a child themselves.
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Harris and Edmonds’ film is described as a “love letter” to their son Josh, who died in a road accident in Vietnam seven years ago.
Michie will join the filmmakers at the London premiere, and will also take part in a Q and A after the screening.
He said: “When your child dies it is devastating for the family, and in many cases affects people for the rest of their lives.
“It is for this reason I am honoured to become an ambassador for this vital and worthy charity and take part in the Q and A at the London premiere of A Love That Never Dies.”
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Edmonds, who acted as director, cinematographer and editor on the film, said: “As a filmmaker, A Love That Never Dies has been the hardest project I’ve ever worked on.
“As a bereaved dad, it has probably saved my life.”
Harris, who directed and produced, added: “It’s about not shying away from grief, of not letting go but of continuing the bond with the deceased and finding rewards where we expected none.”
The event will be chaired by Maria Ahern, chair of peer support group The Compassionate Friends, an organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents which supports and cares for others who are grieving.
She said: “As well as providing a glimpse into bereavement, the film offers an insight for those who support bereaved parents: family, friends, colleagues, and the wider community.
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“When a parent loses their child, all their relationships are affected. Understanding this, and how important it is to maintain a relationship with that child, is key to being able to provide that support.”
The premiere for A Love That Never Dies will take place at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on May 18, at 8.30pm, during Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from May 14-20.
A Love That Never Dies is in UK cinemas from May 18.