Lisa Riley and Lottie Tomlinson have spoken candidly about the loneliness of loss, and the different ways they’ve learned to carry it, in a new short film created in collaboration with bereavement charity Sue Ryder.
Both women have found that grief doesn’t vanish. It changes shape, lingers in quiet moments, and resurfaces without warning. The loss of their mothers remains a defining part of their lives — years later.
“It’s not something you ever get over,” said Emmerdale star Riley, 48, who lost her mum Cath to cancer in 2012. “There’s no rule book. No right or wrong. It just becomes part of you.”
Influencer Tomlinson, 26 — the sister of singer Louis Tomlinson — lost her mum Johannah in 2016, aged 18. Three years later, she endured another devastating loss when her younger sister Félicité died of an accidental drug overdose at the same age.
“Even with people around you, grief can still feel incredibly lonely,” Tomlinson says. “There are days when all you want is the person who’s gone. And nothing really fills that gap.”
In the short film, the pair reflect on the small but powerful things that bring comfort — from a handwritten card to a song lyric that transports them back to a happier time. But more than anything, they both stress the importance of opening up.
“I really believe in the power of talking,” Tomlinson says. “Bottling things up only makes it harder. Whether it’s a friend, family member or someone outside your circle, just offloading what you’re feeling can really help.”
Emmerdale star Riley, too, finds healing in shared stories and laughter. “My mum had this wicked sense of humour,” she smiles. “Keeping that spirit alive through memories, through music — that’s what works for me.”
Figures released alongside the film reveal that nearly 9 in 10 bereaved people feel alone in their grief, with many unsure where to turn for support.
“It’s heartbreaking, but it doesn’t surprise me,” Riley says. “Grief makes people uncomfortable. Often they say nothing at all. But just asking someone how they like to remember the person they’ve lost can open up so much.”
For both Riley and Tomlinson, the message is simple: there’s no right way to grieve — but nobody should feel they have to do it alone.
Sue Ryder offers a range of free grief support, including an online bereavement community and in-person Grief Kind Spaces. Search ‘Grief Deserves Better’ or visit sueryder.org/GriefDeservesBetter
