Richard E. Grant has marked the fifth anniversary of his wife Joan Washington's death with an emotional video, reflecting on his enduring grief and the profound gratitude he feels for their nearly 40 years together. Joan died in September 2021 at the age of 74 after a battle with lung cancer.

In an Instagram post, Grant shared his feelings about the passage of time, noting that five years feels both incredibly long and like the blink of an eye. He expressed deep gratitude for the time he had with Joan, whom he described as the person who understood him best. "She got me, and I got her, and that seems to be the kind of holy grail gift that I never anticipated I would find in my life," he stated.

Grant also shared his sadness that Joan will never meet their new baby grandson, born to their daughter Olivia earlier this year. "I would love more than anything for her to hold her grandchild but that's not to be," he said. He finds solace in their Gloucestershire cottage, which he said is filled with everything they created and collected together, making him feel her presence.

He acknowledged that while he is physically alone, his life feels intertwined with her memory. When friends suggest he might find new love, Grant admitted, "I've not arrived at that station." He stated his intention to celebrate this anniversary, referring to it as a "Happy anniversary."

Grant recently spoke about how becoming a grandfather has taught him not to waste time, a sentiment amplified by his wife's death. He described the experience of welcoming a grandchild as a reminder of the cycle of life, contrasting death with birth. This realization has prompted him to think more about his own mortality and the finite time ahead, encouraging him not to dwell on trivial matters.

Joan Washington, a dialect coach, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer two days before Christmas in 2020 and died eight months later. Grant and Washington met in 1982 and married in 1986. They endured heartbreak with the loss of their first child shortly after birth and Joan's multiple miscarriages before Olivia's arrival.

Grant has been open about his grieving process, revealing he cries daily and continues to write to Joan each night, maintaining what he calls an "ongoing silent conversation" with her. He recalled a poignant moment a month before her death when she meticulously listed reasons why he shouldn't date any women they knew, a gesture he saw as a testament to her love.

Grant has indicated he is not actively seeking a new relationship, despite friends attempting to set him up on dates. His primary focus remains on his family. For the past two years, his daughter Olivia and her husband Florian Wirst have been living with him, with Grant humorously taking on the role of household manager.