Jacqueline Fernandez On Her Mother's Death: ‘I Was Lucky To Spend Her Last Months With Her’

Jacqueline Fernandez, who recently graced the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, opened up for the first time about a deeply personal loss — the passing of her mother, Kim Fernandez.

Jacqueline Fernandez also reflected on the pivotal role her mother played in encouraging her career.

Source : Instagram/@jacquelienefernandez

Jacqueline Fernandez, who recently graced the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and was honoured at the Women in Cinema gala supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, opened up for the first time about a deeply personal loss — the passing of her mother, Kim Fernandez.

In a candid conversation with 'The Hollywood Reporter India', the actor shared how she is still coming to terms with the loss of her mother, who passed away in a Mumbai hospital on April 5, as confirmed by her team.

“I was lucky that I was able to spend the last few months with her. One always feels, ‘I wish I did more.’ ‘What could I have done more?’ And it really, really takes a lot of time to come to terms with it. I don't think I have come to terms with it,” Jacqueline said.

‘She was always my biggest cheerleader’

The actress also reflected on the pivotal role her mother played in encouraging her career, despite coming from a humble background where acting wasn't seen as a conventional path.

“I look at it from the point of what she would have wanted… She was always my biggest cheerleader. We come from such a simple household where it was absurd to see that anyone would go into acting. I was so scared to tell them that acting was my true calling. That this is something that I really wanted to do ever since I was a kid. I only told them around like 18-19 that I feel like getting into this. There was no hesitation, and there never was. Whatever we go through as actors in the industry, our parents also go through it. Everything is out there. What I admire is it takes so much for parents to support you through everything. She was always so proud and she would only want me to keep striving,” Jacqueline added.

Born in Manama, Bahrain, Jacqueline was raised in a multicultural family. Her mother, Kim, was of Malaysian and Canadian heritage, while her father, Elroy Fernandez, hails from Sri Lanka.

Upcoming projects

Jacqueline will next be seen in the much-awaited comedy sequel 'Housefull 5'.