This is Fresh Air, I'm Tanya Mosley.

For my guest, actor Richard E. Grant,

the story that defines his life has not been his rise to fame

or his prolific film and television career.

It's not his writing, directing, or interviewing,

or even his long list of famous friends.

It's his marriage of 35 years to Joan Washington,

an acclaimed dialect coach whom he met during his early years

as a struggling actor.

Joan died in 2021 at the age of 74 from lung cancer.

The last eight months of her life,

Joan and Richard spent every minute of every day together.

Richard documenting her time through journaling.

He's written a book about their lives together called

A Pocket Full of Happiness.

Richard E. Grant rose to fame after starring in the 1987

cult classic with nail and eye.

Since then, he's gone on to star in dozens of television shows

and films including The Iron Lady and Star Wars,

The Rise of Skywalker.

In 2005, he wrote and directed a comedy drama

of film loosely based on his childhood growing up

...