‘Saltburn’ actor Richard E. Grant writes to his late wife every night: ‘I can hear’ her response

Richard E. Grant shared that he writes letters to his late wife, Joan Washington, every night. richard.e.grant/Instagram

Richard E. Grant writes letters to his late wife, Joan Washington, every night to help him process his grief.

The 67-year-old “Saltburn” actor was left devastated when his wife of nearly 35 years died at age 74 in September 2021 after a battle with lung cancer.

Grant admitted Sunday he feels he will never “get over” the loss, but he has taken to writing down his observations of the day in letters to Washington in a bid to feel as if he is having a “conversation” with her.

“After 38 years [together], I can hear what her response would be,” Grant told the Guardian on Sunday of Washington, seen here together in 2005. Getty Images Washington died at age 74 in September 2021 after a battle with lung cancer. richard.e.grant/Instagram

He told the Guardian, “I write to her every night. [I write down] everything. Stuff I know would amuse her. … I have no spiritual or religious delusion that I’m ever going to get a reply.

“But after 38 years [together], I can hear what her response would be. It feels as close a connection as I can have. And I’ve found it very hopeful, that at the end of the day I’m having a conversation.”

He added of his loss, “What I’ve found so difficult is not having her to download to, to download everything that has happened in my day.

“This platitude that ‘time heals’ … I don’t think it does. I think you navigate your way around it. You never get over it. And I’m not actively trying to get over it either.”

Grant acted in “Saltburn.” MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection Washington was a famed dialect coach. richard.e.grant/Instagram

Grant and Washington’s daughter, Olivia Grant, got married over the summer.

The “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” star revealed his wife had recorded a poem to be played at the wedding, but he decided it would be too emotional for guests, so they had it read by someone else instead.

He explained, “It would have wiped everybody out. … [Not having Joan there] that’s the brutal bit.”

Grant and Washington’s daughter, Olivia Grant, seen here in 2019, got married over the summer. Getty Images Richard said not having Washington, pictured above in 2012, at the wedding was “brutal.” Getty Images

Richard went on to reveal three female family friends stepped in to help Olivia in the run-up to the wedding and he will be forever grateful for their kindness.

He said, “[They] appointed themselves her fairy godmothers, like something from ‘Sleeping Beauty.’

“They took her to buy her wedding dress. They took her to lunch. They’ve offered themselves up as mother mentors.”