“There is no PhD in widowhood. When it's very new, you are often surrounded by good friends, but there is a point when people think you should pull yourself together and get over it. That is true, but that point comes for some after two months, some after 12 years and for some, never. It's your experience, and you have to do it your way.”

English actress, comedian and columnist

Dame Maureen Lipman is an English actress, comedian and columnist. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has worked across stage and screen. Her career has been associated with British theatre and public commentary, and she was made a dame in 2020 for services to charity, entertainment and the arts. Her stage work has included appearances with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is also known as a columnist, and her public voice has combined performance, wit and opinion. The 101 quotes on this site reflect that broad public presence rather than a single field alone.