Anne-Marie Duff Returns to Stage After Caring for Late Brother with Early-Onset Alzheimer's

British actress Anne-Marie Duff has returned to the stage in a leading role at the National Theatre after a two-year break from acting to care for her late brother, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Duff, 56, portrays Julie, a divorced and exhausted mother of two, in the play "Some Women."

Duff took time off work to support her family during a difficult period. Her mother, Mary, was hospitalized in 2025 and passed away in December. Her brother, Eddie, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in his late 40s and lived in a care home before his death at age 57 in February. Duff described the experience of caring for her brother as "desperately sad," noting that early-onset Alzheimer's is an aggressive form of dementia that affects individuals under 65.

Reflecting on her brother's diagnosis, Duff expressed gratitude for the time spent with her family. "For their closing chapters, I was with them both, and my dad, the pair of us were comaneros, facing it together. I don't have any regrets," she told Culture magazine. "I'm so glad I was able to be around for all of that, it was a no-brainer. I got a true, very essential, pure notion of what love was there, for a while."

She recalled how her brother's symptoms began to manifest in his forties, including erratic behavior, forgetfulness, and financial carelessness, leading to job loss. His diagnosis in 2017 marked the beginning of a 15-year battle with the disease, which ultimately led to his death from pneumonia.

Duff's character in "Some Women" is a woman struggling to manage her life when a young boy's aggressive encounter with her on a train platform triggers a chain of events that spiral out of her control. The play, written by Helen Edmundson and directed by Blanche McIntyre, is scheduled to run at the Dorfman Theatre until November 21.

The actress has previously spoken candidly about the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. She described the process as "exhausting, frightening and potentially dangerous for you both," and expressed frustration with the care system. Duff noted that many dementia-specific facilities were reluctant to admit patients under 65, and that the family faced difficulties securing appropriate care for Eddie, even as his condition required specialized accommodation. She also highlighted the financial burden and the disparity in care quality, stating that while her own financial means allowed her to contribute to Eddie's care costs, many others would not have that option.

"Grief is a motherf***er. I don't know where I am with it, but I think that's probably all right," Duff said in an earlier interview with Good Housekeeping UK, reflecting on the aftermath of losing her brother and mother.

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease is a rare form of dementia that typically begins before the age of 65, often in the 40s or 50s. Symptoms can include memory loss, disorientation, behavioral changes, and difficulty with daily tasks. The disease progresses gradually, impacting cognitive functions and eventually requiring round-the-clock care.