Jason Watkins and Clara Francis look back: ‘In a moment of madness, I rented a flat just so I could stand at the window and see if he walked by’

Jason Watkins and Clara Francis at two different times - 1991 and 2024. The more recent photo was taken by Pål Hansen and styled by Andie Redman, with hair/makeup/grooming done by Sadaf Ahmad. The older photo is an archive image provided by Jason Watkins and Clara Francis.

Jason Watkins, a celebrated actor hailing from Albrighton, Shropshire, was born in 1962. He is widely recognized for his exceptional acting skills, both in humorous and serious roles, featured in several hit TV shows including W1A, Line of Duty and The Crown. During a backstage encounter at a performance of Timon of Athens in 1991, Watkins met his soon-to-be wife, the equally talented actor, Clara Francis. In 2014, the couple tied the knot and in 2023, they collaborated to create a documentary named In Memory of Maudie. The documentary centered around their beloved two-year-old daughter, Maude, who succumbed to sepsis in 2011. Notably, Francis is also the co-founder of O Pioneers fashion label. Currently, Watkins can be seen showcasing his talents in the thriller, Coma, which can be streamed on My5.

I took this picture when I visited Clara's parents' house and she was celebrating her 20th birthday. It was also the first time I met her family. I look a little startled in the photo because I was surprised by the lively atmosphere. My family tends to be reserved and not talkative, but Clara's family is the opposite. They are from North London, and their Jewish home is very animated. If you want to be heard in Clara's house, you need to start with an attention-grabbing headline or an interesting topic right away, otherwise no one will listen to you. I didn't say much that day because I was still adapting to the dynamic.

Wearing a shirt with a foliage-and-banana print was not my usual style. It was completely new to me and stood out from what I would normally wear. During my time in drama school, I did not identify with any particular group. My music taste included Thompson Twins and Everything But the Girl, which did not align with the style the shirt conveyed, which was more like Simply Red. I remember feeling uneasy as I looked down at the shirt, realizing that I had made a mistake in my outfit choice.

Clara and I were only pals back then, but we both harbored romantic emotions. While performing in Timon of Athens at the Young Vic, Clara played the role of my dresser. However, I also had affection for Caroline [Harding], whom I eventually wed and had kids with. Our offspring are both adults now, but we parted ways when they were juveniles. But, Clara, Caroline, Chris, her fresh spouse, and their child Belle, are all tightly knit. Being a joyful, large family is truly an incredible blessing.

After a decade since our initial encounter, I made plans with Clara to meet up outside Aldwych theatre in the West End. I sensed her presence even before I caught a glimpse of her, and when I did, it felt like a natural and familiar reunion. Without missing a beat, we dove right into beginning anew.

It's remarkable to reflect on everything that has occurred since that picture was captured. Clara has achieved great success on her own and has established a remarkable circle of companions. In my acting profession, I've had the luck and opportunity to experience a lot of diversity. While we've had three kids, we've also endured the loss of one of our precious daughters.

The biggest moment of our lives was the loss of Maude. When it happened, Clara made it clear that she didn't want people to feel sorry for her. She didn't want to be known as the woman whose child had passed away. Instead, she bravely approached the topic and would tell people that it was indeed her who had lost her child. She welcomed conversations about it with others.

Both of us have acquired extraordinary abilities. Clara now serves as a mediator for groups of parents who have suffered the loss of a child. Her gift of being able to emotionally assist and comfort them is truly remarkable. On the other hand, I have utilized my indignation and experience to push for medical advancements and better knowledge of the clinical reaction to sepsis. Things that I lacked at Clara's 20th birthday party, such as being decisive and self-assured, I now possess thanks to Maude.

Clara and I had a strong connection from the start, but over time I have grown to admire her even more. When we first met, she was already strikingly beautiful, but now she has become an extraordinary person, in part due to the hardships we have faced. Clara has a special glow within her that she is able to share with others. She is an incredibly loyal friend, and can also be comfortable in silence while indulging in hobbies such as beading and watching silly TV shows. Clara's love for reading and her fascinating personality make her much more interesting than me. Whenever she enters a room, she brightens it up with her radiance. And every year that passes, her inner light only shines brighter.

I feel so happy and excited that my face is red. I was deeply in love with Jason. We bumped into each other at the theater while I was pretending to be sophisticated. Before I knew it, he was standing in my childhood house. I felt anxious and ashamed that he might find out I was just a regular girl from the suburbs.

At my home, everyone talks simultaneously and you must be fast and entertaining to grab their attention. During our recent family gathering, Jason was sharing a long tale when mom interrupted abruptly, asking if anyone wanted ice-cream. An irritated Jason then declared that he won't finish the story. I tried to assure him that we were interested, but he responded that it didn't matter since this is a long-term pattern in our family communications.

When I first met Jason, I found him hilarious, charming, skilled, and elegant. He was nine years my senior and an actor, which was my desired career path. I was still residing with my parents, while he had a dwelling in Islington. In a lovestruck fit, I leased a frigid and unpleasant apartment that had a view of Angel tube station, solely so that I could watch out the window to see if he was strolling by. If he did, I would hastily apply my makeup, head to Marks & Spencer or whatever place he was headed to, and pretend to be nonchalant: "Oh, hello, Jason! How unexpected!" On occasion, he would pledge to reach out to me, but he never telephoned as he maintained. As this was before the era of mobile phones, I wouldn't exit my abode for days on end in the event that I missed his call, until I eventually secured an answering machine. At this point, I was liberated.

I used to reside in that dreadful apartment when he chose Caroline. Although it hurt initially, I managed to recover and found a new partner within half a year. During the following ten years, I was aware that Jason was contentedly married and had children, therefore, I never believed that he was the one that I missed out on. Nonetheless, if someone in the industry spoke of him, I would inquire about his whereabouts and work position.

The second time we saw each other, it just felt like it was meant to be. Since he had hurt me in the past, my loved ones were concerned – they had witnessed the aftermath before. However, things were uncomplicated this time around. I recall pondering, "The crucial factor is timing. We weren't destined to be together back then, but we are now."

Jason and I made a promise that we would tie the knot when our girls were at a suitable age to become bridesmaids. However, things took an unexpected turn when Maude passed away. It left us questioning how we could go ahead with our plans while grieving the loss of someone so special. We were blessed with a son, Gilbert, nearly a year later, and our eldest daughter, Bessie, asked us if we would consider getting married now.

Rupert, who officiated Maude's funeral, was the one who wedded us. Our wedding seemed to be closely associated with the loss of Maude. Her presence was felt during the day that every guest made a speech mentioning her. Our special day turned out to be a celebration of our ability to smile again and the strong bond that Jason and I share.

The initial song we danced to was The Long and Twisting Path, which perfectly depicts the crazy life we shared as a couple. At one point, our relationship ended, and he got hitched to another lady with whom he started a family. Nevertheless, now we are one big happy family. When our beloved Maude passed away, Caroline opted to lease an apartment within close proximity to us. She was there, supporting us every step of the way, and I cannot express enough how much I appreciate her for that.

The bond between Jason and I had numerous opportunities to deteriorate, but somehow we managed to overcome all obstacles and remain deeply linked, eternally.