Anna Maxwell Martin says she was in a state of “financial terror” following the death of her ex-husband and feared the impact it would have on her children’s mental wellbeing.
The actress, best known for her roles in BBC shows Motherland and Line Of Duty, was left devastated after filmmaker Roger Michell died suddenly in 2021, a year after the couple announced their separation.
And Martin, 47, admits his first instinct was to protect his two daughters, Maggie, 15, and Nancy, 13, as they faced a potentially uncertain financial future.
She told BBC Women’s Hour: “My husband died three years ago and things were really difficult in all aspects of our lives.
‘One of them was that there are many things that come with pain, and one of them is financial terror. “And then there are real practicalities around their children and their mental health, and supporting them, which is their priority.”
Anna Maxwell Martin says she was in a state of “financial terror” following the death of her ex-husband and feared the impact it would have on her children’s mental wellbeing.
The actress, best known for her roles in BBC shows Motherland and Line Of Duty, was left devastated after filmmaker Roger Michell died suddenly in 2021 (pictured in 2008).
He added: “Looking back, I was probably in a state of shock, fear and heightened state for a long time, until very recently.”
Michell, an acclaimed director whose film credits included Notting Hill, Enduring Love and the BBC show The Buddha Of Suburbia, died aged 65 from an undisclosed cause on September 22, 2021.
But Martin, who is currently promoting new show Until I Kill You, believes losing her father Ivan Martin when she was 24 helped her cope with the loss of her ex-husband.
She said: ‘I have tried this path before, of pain and sudden, traumatic death. I’ve done it before and in some ways I could get up and do it again.
“It was horrible having to watch my kids go down that road, but I’m pretty brave, I’m pretty strong, and I think I’m pretty skilled, I hope, at navigating life. And I thought, ‘I’ve got to keep the engine running.’
And she added: “When it happened to me (for the first time) and I was 24 years old, I felt very alone. I was very isolated because no one had gone through what I had gone through. I didn’t know those people.
“And then when it happened with Rog, I saw it more as ‘we all have to stick together for the kids.’
‘I also think there’s something about being a 40-year-old woman and by then, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll have managed to have the best friends and the best people around you.
Michell, an acclaimed director whose film credits included Notting Hill, died at age 65 of an undisclosed cause on September 22, 2021 (pictured with Martin in 2013).
Martin admits his first instinct was to protect his two daughters, Maggie, 15, and Nancy, 13, as they faced a potentially uncertain financial future.
Martin and Michell announced their separation in 2020, before he passed away the following year (pictured in September 2021).
‘You will have stopped making mistakes in that area of your life. And I really did, I had exceptional friends, an exceptional support network.”
talking to Sunday weather In June, Martin revealed that her and her daughters’ pain was compounded by the lack of empathy from others.
The Line Of Duty star explained that acquaintances crossed the road to avoid them and avoided talking about Roger’s death, saying she felt “sorry” for them and that they had “crumpled” by not showing any sensitivity.
She said: ‘We make these broad, sweeping statements about ‘We’re so much better now’, but I haven’t discovered that. The schools are certainly not better.
‘And then there are those who talk to me as if nothing had happened. We have experienced a lot of that. The girls, thank God, are very adept at processing it, so they involve their dad in the conversation, but even members of Roger’s generation, people my age, can’t have mentioned (his death).’
And he continued: ‘People are very bad at recognizing pain, death or difficulties. I find it really strange. Is it something cultural? I’m so glad I’m not one of those people because when it happens I think: I feel sorry for you.
You’re screwed. I know you’re scared, but it’s about showing love and saying to someone, “How are you? Was it difficult? How are you feeling?”
Speaking to The Sunday Times in June, the actress revealed that her and her daughters’ pain was compounded by the lack of empathy from others (pictured in 2022).
Martin has been dating millionaire record boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, 52, since 2022 and described him as “very down to earth, rockin’, down to earth and practical” (pictured in 2017).
Martin also emphasized the value of talking about a lost loved one after their death, calling it “very important.” I know, but I still want to know, that Roger was important to people and an incredibly talented person.’
He added how vital it had been for his daughters to be able to continue viewing the wealth of archive footage of their father.
She said: ‘It’s really important. With my dad I very quickly forgot what he sounded like, then after 20 years I found a recording and heard his voice again. It was a shock and really hard.
‘My daughters miss (their father) all the time, but they won’t have that ‘Oh my God!’ moment: they can see it whenever they want. I go on the Internet and listen to Roger often.’
Martin has been dating millionaire record boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, 52, since 2022.
Martin is perhaps best known for her starring role in the hit BBC drama Line Of Duty (pictured).
The actress is currently promoting her new TV show, Until I Kill You (pictured, with co-star Shaun Evans).