Australian actress Jessica Marais’ mother Karen has sadly died this week.
Jessica’s Packed To The Rafters co-star Hugh Sheridan, 35, shared the news as he took to Instagram to publicly support the actress with a touching tribute.
Alongside a series of photos of the pair together, Hugh reflected on his friendship with the 35-year-old star, as he revealed he was “grieving for my dearest and sweetest friend.”
“We’ve helped each other through our lives changing in so many ways. Our wins and highs met extreme lows sometimes, but we always made it through,” Hugh wrote.
“I can’t tell you how sh*t I feel knowing I can’t hug you right now.
“To have distance between us when I want to be with you. I know we’ve spoken since and we’re pretty private usually but I really wanted to let everyone know how much I’m grieving for my dearest and sweetest friend who’s now lost both of her parents far too young.”
Hugh posted these snaps of Jess, taken when the pair were last together in June.
(Image: Instagram)
The duo have been by each other’s sides through thick and thin.
(Image: Instagram)Jess was raised by her mother after moving to Australia from South Africa at age nine. She lost her father to a heart attack six months later.
Hugh added: “I have the best memories of us and Karen… remember we would make her laugh till she was going to wee 😂 she was so proud of you and so am I.”
“I love you Jess. I’ll be back very soon and I will hug you for a very long time (after I get lot of quarantine). I found these photos from the last time I hugged you at my birthday in June ♥”
Hugh concluded his post with Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken, in tribute to Karen.
Hugh and Jess have been close friends for years.
(Image: Getty)Over on Jess’ Instagram account, she had three days earlier shared a throwback photo of herself and her sister Clara with their mother during their childhood.
While Jess didn’t caption the photo, her followers appeared to show their support by commenting love heart emojis, including her Rafters co-star Zoe Ventoura and Love Child co-star Sophie Hensser Bloom.
Hugh and Jess have been friends since university and starred together as siblings on Packed To The Rafters from 2008 to 2013.
They’ve continued to share a close friendship in the years since the Channel Seven drama ended and Hugh has often been pictured with Jess, particularly during her public battles with her mental health.
Jess posted this throwback photo of herself and her mother on Instagram, with no caption, following Karen’s passing.
(Image: Instagram)Jess has a daughter Scout, whom she co-parents with her former partner and Rafters co-star James Stewart.
James is now married to his Home And Away co-star Sarah Roberts.
This article originally appeared on our sister website New Idea.
WATCH BELOW: See Jessica Marais and James Stewart’s racy scene on Packed To The Rafters.
