Jane Hawking

Jane Hawking

Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking Jones, born on 29 March 1944, is an English author and teacher. She was married to the famous scientist Stephen Hawking for 30 years, from 1965 until their divorce in 1995.

During their marriage, Jane supported Stephen as he lived with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that slowly limited his physical abilities. Jane has written about her experiences, sharing stories about their life together and the importance of love and resilience. Her story helps people understand the challenges families face with serious health conditions.

Early life and education

Jane was born to George and Beryl Wilde. She grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and was raised in the Church of England. She studied languages at the University of London's Westfield College.

Jane met Stephen Hawking at a party in 1962. Even after Stephen learned he had motor neuron disease in 1963, they married in 1965 and had three children: Robert, Lucy, and Timothy. Jane later earned a PhD in medieval Spanish poetry in 1981. She and Stephen separated in 1990 and divorced in 1995, but she still helped him with his work. In 1997, she married musician Jonathan Hellyer Jones.

Later life

In 1999, Jane wrote a book called Music to Move the Stars: A Life with Stephen. The book shared her life with Stephen Hawking. It was later made into a television film called Hawking. Even after Stephen divorced his second wife, Jane and Stephen stayed friendly and worked together.

In 2009, Jane updated her book and called it Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. This book was made into an award-winning film named The Theory of Everything. After the film was released, Jane spoke about her experiences on BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour in January 2015.

Portrayal in media

Jane Hawking appeared in television and film. In 2004, Lisa Dillon played her in the TV film Hawking. In 2014, Felicity Jones acted as her in the movie The Theory of Everything. For this performance, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Works

Jane Hawking wrote several books about her life. Her non-fiction books include At Home In France: Guide to Buying and Renovating Property In France, Music to Move the Stars: A Life with Stephen, and Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen.

She also wrote a novel trilogy called Immortal Souls. The books in this series are Cry to Dream Again, The Fiery Pillars of War, and Silent Music.