Simone Ledward Boseman Opens Up on Grief and Guarding Chadwick's Legacy
Simone Ledward Boseman, the widow of the late actor Chadwick Boseman, has given a rare and deeply personal interview reflecting on the five years since his passing. Speaking ahead of the UK premiere of her husband's play Deep Azure at Shakespeare's Globe in London, she shared insights into her grieving process, the couple's private battle with his cancer diagnosis, and her role in safeguarding his enduring legacy.
The Weight of a Global Loss
When Chadwick Boseman's death was announced in August 2020, the world was stunned. At just 43 years old, the actor had become a global icon following his groundbreaking role as T'Challa in Black Panther, the first Black superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The shock was compounded by the revelation that he had been privately battling colorectal cancer since 2016, a diagnosis kept secret from the public and most of Hollywood.
"The edges of grief get less sharp over time," Simone reflects. "Five years definitely feels like a marker. I've had to gradually figure out how I talk about Chad. What do I want to share, and what do I feel comfortable sharing?" She describes the initial years as the most challenging of her life, where the shock of loss was profound and waking up each day meant confronting the reality anew.
A Private Battle in the Public Eye
Boseman worked tirelessly throughout his treatment, filming seven movies including Black Panther and making numerous public appearances. "He never wanted to be treated differently," Simone explains. "A lot of the roles he did were so physical, and he still wanted to do them. He did not want to be judged by what he was experiencing." The couple maintained an intensely private circle, with only a handful of family members and friends aware of his condition.
Simone acknowledges the public's curiosity but emphasises the necessity of their privacy. "When you're in a position like Chad's, everything you're doing has to be protected. You just have to be careful who you tell your plans to," she says. This discretion extended to their relationship, which began in 2014 after meeting at a Hollywood Bowl event and blossomed away from the spotlight.
Navigating Public Grief and Personal Healing
In the aftermath of Boseman's death, Simone faced immense pressure to grieve publicly and manage expectations about his legacy. "I'm sure there was anger from people who felt they should have been in on the secret," she admits. "But I didn't bear any of that. I just said, 'If Chad didn't talk to you about it, I'm not going to talk to you about it.'"
She has since adopted a guiding principle: "I don't have to create his legacy, I just have to protect it. I just have to make sure that it doesn't get flattened. That's why I love talking about him – I think it's important that people understand him as a full human being." This approach informed her involvement in the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever, where she collaborated with director Ryan Coogler to honour Boseman's memory without recasting his role.
The Healing Power of Deep Azure
The revival of Deep Azure at Shakespeare's Globe represents a significant moment for Simone. The play, which explores grief and the aftermath of an unarmed Black man's death, was written by Boseman over two decades ago and mirrors his own experiences at Howard University. "It was incredibly healing for me to read, but I had to take it in very small steps," she reveals. Director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu aims to create a safe space for exploring Black communal grief through the production.
Simone has cautiously engaged with cancer advocacy, speaking at the White House in 2023 about colorectal cancer. "I never want his life story to be distilled down to the way that he died. I want his life to be about the way that he lived," she asserts, highlighting the disparities in healthcare access for Black communities.
Moving Forward with Love and Memory
Despite her focus on Boseman's legacy, Simone is building her own life. She has moved back to her hometown of Vallejo, California, is planning a neighbourhood wine bar, and continues her music career under the name sahn, with a new album set for release. "He would be upset if I made my life about his life," she notes.
Reflecting on their time together, she cherishes 2018 as their best year, when Boseman was in remission and they travelled the world, deeply in love. "Our appreciation for each other, his appreciation for his own time – it was just a really, really beautiful year," she recalls.
Ultimately, Simone finds solace in keeping Boseman's memory alive. "I love knowing that he lived and his spirit still does. I love being able to commune with him in the spirit now," she says, quoting a poem that encourages speaking of loved ones in the easy way they were known. Through Deep Azure and her ongoing advocacy, she continues to honour the full, multifaceted life of Chadwick Boseman.
