Jean Boht won over audiences as Ma Boswell on BBC sitcom Bread, but following her death at the age of 91, the star has left a massive fortune behind for her loved ones
09:57, 07 Jan 2025Updated 09:57, 07 Jan 2025
Jean Boht reportedly left millions of pounds to her loved ones following her death.
Jean was aged 91 when she passed away on September 12, 2023 as a result of complications developed by Alzheimer's disease. During her career, she wowed audiences with her strong and impressive acting style, earning herself a reputation for no-nonsense characters.
But it was her role as Nellie 'Ma' Boswell in BBC sitcom Bread that had viewers charmed as she ruled the show with an iron first as they did they best they could to survive. This would mean illicit cash-grab schemes would often be deployed, with hilarious consequences ensuing.
Now, almost 18 months on from her tragic passing, Jean's net worth and estate has been revealed - and it appears she had left millions to her loved ones following her passing. Following the deduction of liabilities and unpaid debts, Jean - whose real name was Jean Davis - left an impressive estate worth more than £2.6million, according to the Daily Mail.
According to her will that was written before she died, the star left her entire savings to her daughters Hannah Law, 52, and Jessie Stevenson, 50. Both women have managed to carve out careers in the media, with both going on to make their own films to continue working in the industry.
Jean's death came just six weeks on from the tragic and sudden shift of her second husband, Carl Davis, - who had died on August 3. The conductor had an illustrious career, with his work being featured in the likes of The French Lieutenant's Woman in 1981, as well as the BBC screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in 1995.
The actress' own career had taken off on the stage, with Jean landing her first roles in the theatre, before making the jump to television. During her career, she starred in hit dramas at the time such as Last of the Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Grange Hill.
In Bread, her character Nellie ran a tight ship, making sure that her children were contributing to the house's upkeep, struggling to keep naughty husband Freddy away from Lilo Lil, whom Nellie branded "that tart". The show was a massive success, with as many as 21million viewers tuning in to see the show at its peak, reaching the height of its fame in 1988.
But despite her raving reviews from critics at her performances, the star admitted in an interview in 2012 that she never watched Bread at home when it came out. She explained: "It's too horrendous for actors to see themselves on screen, so I had no idea what it looked like; but now, when I catch it, I am just astounded at how good it was and how very funny."
Following her retirement, Jean was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She was eventually moved to Denville Hall care home - a dedicated nursing home for people in the entertainment industry, where she passed at the age of 91.
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