Jane Hawking

Last updated

Jane Hawking
Born
Jane Beryl Wilde

(1944-03-29) 29 March 1944 (age 79)
St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Alma mater Westfield College, London
Occupation(s)Author, teacher
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1965;div. 1995)​
  • Jonathan Jones
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1997)​
Children3, including Lucy Hawking

Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking Jones (born 29 March 1944) is an English author and teacher. She was married to Stephen Hawking for 30 years. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Jane was born to George and Beryl Wilde ( née  Eagleton). She grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire. She was raised in the Church of England and is an active Christian. [2] [1]

She studied languages at the University of London's Westfield College. [3] Jane and Stephen Hawking met through mutual college friends at a party in 1962. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS) in 1963. Though aware of his consequent shortened life expectancy and limitations, the couple became engaged in 1964 and married in 1965 in their shared hometown of St Albans. [4] They had three children: Robert, born in 1967, Lucy, born in 1970, and Timothy, born in 1979. [5]

After years of working on her doctoral thesis through Westfield College, Hawking received her PhD in medieval Spanish poetry in April 1981. [6] She felt compelled to obtain a PhD to have her own academic identity within the University of Cambridge. [1] [7]

Jane and Stephen Hawking separated in 1990, and divorced five years later. In 1997, she married musician Jonathan Hellyer Jones. [8] However, she continued to support Hawking through his health problems as he continued to work. [1] In the postlude to her 2007 memoir Travelling to Infinity, she writes about Hawking after his second divorce (from nurse Elaine Mason): "We are able to associate freely again and enjoy many a family occasion together. It has been quite like old times..."[ citation needed ]

During her marriage to Hawking, while dealing with the progression of his illness, Jane experienced depression. In a 2004 interview, she cited her Christian faith as giving her hope during her marriage and the depression she experienced as a result of being his then-caregiver. In that interview, she noted the irony in her faith-based strength to support him in light of Hawking's well-known atheism. [1]

Later life

In 1999, she wrote an autobiography about her first marriage, Music to Move the Stars: A Life with Stephen, which was used as a basis for the 2004 television film Hawking about his early years as a PhD student at Cambridge University and the beginnings of their relationship and marriage. [1] She and Stephen Hawking established a working relationship following his separation and divorce from his second wife.[ citation needed ]

In 2009, an updated version of the autobiography was republished under the title Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen and was subsequently made into the award-winning film The Theory of Everything . [3] [9] Following the release of the film, Hawking discussed her life on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in January 2015. [10]

Portrayal in media

Hawking was portrayed on television by Lisa Dillon in the 2004 television film Hawking, and on film by Felicity Jones in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything , for which Jones was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. [11]

Works

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah, Duchess of York</span> Former wife of Prince Andrew (born 1959)

Sarah, Duchess of York, also known by the nickname Fergie, is a British author, television personality, and former member of the British royal family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who is the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and a younger brother of King Charles III.

<i>Anna Karenina</i> 1878 novel by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written, Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial installments from 1875 to 1877, all but the last part appearing in the periodical The Russian Messenger. When William Faulkner was asked to list what he thought were the three greatest novels, he replied: "Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, and Anna Karenina".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beryl Markham</span> British writer, aviator, adventurer, racehorse trainer (1902–1986)

Beryl Markham was a Kenyan aviator born in England, adventurer, racehorse trainer and author. She was the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North America. She wrote about her adventures in her memoir, West with the Night.

<i>A Brief History of Time</i> (film) 1991 American documentary film directed by Errol Morris

A Brief History of Time is a 1991 biographical documentary film about the physicist Stephen Hawking, directed by Errol Morris. The title derives from Hawking's bestselling 1988 book A Brief History of Time, but, whereas the book is solely an explanation of cosmology, the film is also a biography of Hawking, featuring interviews with some of his family members and colleagues. The film is scored by frequent Morris collaborator Philip Glass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Hawking</span> English journalist and novelist

Catherine Lucy Hawking is an English journalist, novelist, educator, and philanthropist. She is the daughter of the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and writer Jane Wilde Hawking. She lives in London, and is a children's novelist and science educator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felicity Jones</span> English actress (born 1983)

Felicity Rose Hadley Jones is an English actress. She started her professional acting career as a child, appearing in The Treasure Seekers (1996) at age 12. She went on to play Ethel Hallow for one series of the television series The Worst Witch and its sequel Weirdsister College. On radio, she has played the role of Emma Grundy in the BBC's The Archers. In 2008, she appeared in the Donmar Warehouse production of The Chalk Garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony McCarten</span> New Zealand writer

Anthony McCarten is a New Zealand writer and filmmaker. He is best known for writing big-budget biopics The Theory of Everything (2014), Darkest Hour (2017), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), The Two Popes (2019), and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022). McCarten has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including twice for Best Adapted Screenplay, for The Theory of Everything and The Two Popes.

<i>Hawking</i> (2004 film) 2004 television film directed by Philip Martin

Hawking is a 2004 biographical drama television film directed by Philip Martin and written by Peter Moffat. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, it chronicles Stephen Hawking's early years as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, following his search for the beginning of time, and his struggle against motor neuron disease. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Hawking and premiered in the UK in April 2004.

Kitty Gail Ferguson is an American science writer, lecturer, and former professional musician.

<i>Walk on the Wild Side</i> (film) 1962 film by Edward Dmytryk

Walk on the Wild Side is a 1962 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk, and starring Laurence Harvey, Capucine, Jane Fonda, Anne Baxter and Barbara Stanwyck. It was adapted from the 1956 novel A Walk on the Wild Side by American author Nelson Algren. The film was scripted by John Fante.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Hawking</span> English theoretical physicist (1942–2018)

Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Between 1979 and 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, widely viewed as one of the most prestigious academic posts in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beryl Davis</span> British-American jazz and big band singer (1924–2011)

Beryl Davis was a vocalist who sang with British and American big bands, as well as being an occasional featured vocalist at a very young age with the Quintette du Hot Club de France between 1936 and 1939. She was still performing in her 80s, into the 2000s, possibly the last surviving and performing singer of the generation of popular entertainers from the 1930s and wartime years.

Stephen Hawking: Master of the Universe is a documentary television series produced by the television broadcaster Channel 4. The subject of the series is British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, known for his work on black holes, who is also the presenter of the series. The series includes interviews with astrophysicist Kim Weaver, Bernard Carr, a student of Hawking's, and three theoretical physicists: Michio Kaku, Edward Witten, known for his work on superstring theory, and Lisa Randall. The first episode premiered in 2008, twenty years after the publication of Hawking's bestselling popular science book A Brief History of Time. The title is derived from a Newsweek cover.

<i>The Theory of Everything</i> (2014 film) 2014 biographical film of the life of Stephen Hawking

The Theory of Everything is a 2014 biographical romantic drama film directed by James Marsh. Set at the University of Cambridge, it details the life of the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. It was adapted by Anthony McCarten from the 2007 memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Hawking, which deals with her relationship with her ex-husband Stephen Hawking, his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and his success in the field of physics. The film stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, with Charlie Cox, Emily Watson, Simon McBurney, Christian McKay, Harry Lloyd, and David Thewlis featured in supporting roles. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on 7 November 2014. It had its UK premiere on 1 January 2015.

Hawking is a 2013 biographical documentary film about Stephen Hawking directed by Stephen Finnigan and features Hawking himself, depicting his love life, his struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his later recognition as a world-famous scientist.

"What the World Needs Now" is the sixth episode of the sixth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 114th overall. The episode was written by Michael Hitchcock, directed by Barbara Brown, and first aired on February 6, 2015 on Fox in the United States.

Lisa Bruce is an American film producer known for the 2014 film The Theory of Everything.

<i>The Theory of Everything</i> (soundtrack) 2014 film score by Jóhann Jóhannsson

The Theory of Everything (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album composed by Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson to the 2014 film of the same name released on 4 November 2014 by Back Lot Music. The score relies on neo-classical themes more than "the decades' respective earmark sounds of the British invasion", punk music and synthpop, while including "[Jóhannsson's] signature blend of acoustic instruments and electronics". The music was acclaimed by critics, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, alongside receiving nominations Academy Award for Best Original Score, a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score and a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adams, Tim (4 April 2004). "Jane Hawking: Brief history of a first wife". The Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Gornall, Jon. Dr Jane Hawking: Her own theory on it all. The National (UAE), March 8, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Anderson, L.V. (7 November 2014). "How Accurate Is The Theory of Everything?". Slate. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Ferguson, Kitty (3 January 2012). Stephen Hawking: An Unfettered Mind. St. Martin's Press. ISBN   978-0-230-34060-2.
  5. ↑ Ferguson, Kitty (5 July 2012). Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work (paperback ed.). Bantam. p. 157. ISBN   978-0-8575-0074-8.
  6. ↑ "simplyknowledge – Biographies- Stephen Hawking".
  7. ↑ Hawking, Jane (1 January 2015). "The Theory of Everything: the true story of Stephen Hawking and Jane Hawking's marriage".
  8. ↑ Ferguson, Kitty (2011). Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work. Transworld. ISBN   978-1-4481-1047-6.
  9. ↑ "Fact-Checking the Film: 'The Theory of Everything'". Entertainment Weekly. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  10. ↑ Presenter: Sheila McClennon; Producer: Susannah Tresilian; Interviewed Guest: Jane Hawking (2 January 2015). "Jane Hawking; Surrogacy; Same Clothes Every Day; Safe Houses for Over-45s". Woman's Hour . 03:30 minutes in. BBC. BBC Radio 4 . Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "I never expected my name to be associated with these kinds of awards". Independent.co.uk . 15 January 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.