Anna Chancellor: Dancing in the Darkest Hours, the Extraordinary Life & Death of Poppy Chancellor

This week is a very special, tender episode. Gabriella speaks with actor Anna Chancellor about the life and death of her extraordinary daughter, Poppy Chancellor.

Poppy was an artist: funny, vibrant, creative and full of life; even after being diagnosed with Leukaemia and throughout treatment, she did a dance a day ~ a joyful act of defiance.

In this conversation Anna shares her experience of Poppy dying: the difficulty of being a mother watching her daughter becoming increasingly unwell, but also the beauty of their relationship and the creative, truly inspiring way they approached Poppy’s death.

Poppy had begun to work in grief, prior to her diagnosis and so she was able to guide her mother through her own dying process. Anna’s description of the magic they created together through art and ceremony as Poppy was dying as well as after she had died is remarkable.

Anna also speaks to Gabriella about being witnessed in her grief, how Poppy’s death has changed her, as well her continuing relationship with Poppy after her death.

We want to thank Anna so much for this incredibly intimate conversation about unthinkable loss, fierce love and creating beauty amongst it all. 🦋

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Content note: MORTAL contains conversations around death, bereavement and loss 🕊️

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Mentions & Links

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, This Little Light of Mine

Poppy’s platform Griefcase: https://www.instagram.com/thegriefcase/?hl=en-gb

For signposting to support for any of the topics covered in this episode 🌀 https://linktr.ee/MortalPodcast

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Created by: Gabriella Wilde & Olivia Percival

Editors: Olivia Percival & Alexandra Quinn

Music composed by Robert Logan

Comms: Jordan Maxwell

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