Actor Warwick Davis was supported by a mystery woman and his two children as he received an OBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday — a deeply emotional moment that comes nearly two years after the heartbreaking death of his wife.
The 56-year-old Harry Potter star was awarded the honour for his services to drama and charity. Standing proudly beside him during the ceremony were his daughter Annabelle, 28, and son Harrison, 23, along with an unidentified companion believed to be the same person he once thanked publicly for helping him “love again”.
Warwick shared his two children with his late wife Samantha Davis, who tragically died in March 2024 aged 53 after suffering cardiac arrest caused by complications following essential surgery.
As the actor accepted the honour from Prince William, the mystery woman watched from the sidelines alongside his children.
The woman he calls “Sponge”
The identity of the woman remains unknown, but fans suspect she may be the same person Warwick affectionately referred to as “Sponge” during an emotional speech last year.
While accepting the BAFTA Fellowship, the actor surprised audiences by giving a heartfelt shout-out to the mystery figure.
He said: Special mention should go to Sponge, you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and to love again.
Later appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, Warwick joked that the person would remain a secret.
He said: I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
The actor also joked that Sponge reminded him of Kerry Mucklowe, Daisy May Cooper’s character in the BBC comedy This Country, saying her accent and sense of humour were very similar.
Grieving the loss of Samantha
Warwick’s wife Samantha — also an actress — died at University College Hospital in London following complications after major surgery.
An inquest later concluded that her death was caused by arrhythmic cardiac arrest linked to complications following thoracic surgery.
During his emotional BAFTA speech, Warwick paid tribute to the woman he described as the driving force behind his career.
He said that throughout his acting journey there were times when he hesitated to accept certain roles, but Samantha always encouraged him to seize every opportunity.
He explained that she was brilliant at networking, constantly speaking with producers and helping him secure his next job, and that her support made an enormous difference in such a demanding industry.
Warwick said acting can often feel lonely and that having someone supportive at home is essential.
A love story spanning decades
Warwick and Samantha first met on the set of the 1988 fantasy film Willow, where he played the lead character Willow Ufgood. They later married in 1991.
Together they built a life centred on family and advocacy. The couple also experienced unimaginable heartbreak when their first child died just nine days after birth.
Despite the tragedies they endured, Samantha remained a pillar of strength for Warwick and their family.
In a touching statement following her death, Warwick described her as his favourite human, his most trusted confidant and the person who made him feel like he had a superpower.
He said she always saw the sunny side of life, had a wicked sense of humour and laughed even at his worst jokes.
Continuing her legacy
Together, Warwick and Samantha founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 to support people with dwarfism and their families.
Warwick, who has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, and Samantha, who had achondroplasia, were passionate advocates for the dwarfism community.
Despite his personal loss, Warwick continues to honour her legacy through charity work and his acting career.
The star — beloved for roles such as Professor Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter films — has also confirmed he will return to the wizarding world for the upcoming Harry Potter television reboot.
And as he accepted one of Britain’s highest honours this week, it was clear that while grief remains part of his life, the support of his children — and perhaps the mysterious “Sponge” — is helping him move forward.