Yahoo Finance Jason Watkins pays tribute to late daughter Maude on her 12th birthday
Jason Watkins has paid a touching tribute to his late daughter Maude on her 12th birthday.
Maude, whose mother is Watkins' second wife Clara Francis, died aged two and half years old from sepsis on New Year's Day 2011.
Posting to Twitter on Wednesday 7 October, the actor wrote: "I lit a candle this morning, as the sun came up as I set off for work - for my beautiful daughter Maudie who’s birthday it is today.
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"Always in my thoughts and in my heart for ever. I seem to kiss her more and more each year on these days. #HoldingItTogether."
I lit a candle this morning, as the sun came up as I set off for work - for my beautiful daughter Maudie who’s birthday it is today. Always in my thoughts and in my heart for ever. I seem to kiss her more and more each year on these days. #HoldingItTogether pic.twitter.com/gr9TDB2reQ
— Jason Watkins (@Jason__Watkins) October 7, 2020
The 53-year-old shared a photo of the lit candle as well as two snaps of his beloved daughter.
In late 2010, the tot was suffering with a bad cough and respiratory problems which was diagnosed as croup after hospital visits.
On New Year's Eve the family were sent home by the hospital and the following morning Watkins and Francis' older daughter Bessie came into their room and told them: "I can't wake Maude.”
Watkins has described the effect of his daughter's sudden death on his family as "cataclysmic".
They are parents to Bessie as well as son Gilbert, whom they had after Maude's passing. Watkins also has two adult sons from his first marriage, Pip and Freddie.
When he won the Leading Actor Bafta in 2015 for his role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, Watkins dedicated the prize to Maude.
He said at the time: “If there is a reason why I’m standing here it is because of our Maudie, so thank you.”
Watch: Jason Watkins struggled with filming Aberfan disaster scenes for The Crown
