Heartbreak over death of Hollywood star (From Bucks Free Press)

Bourne End mother-in-law tells of family's grief over sudden death of Hollywood star

11:00am Sunday 14th February 2010 in Bourne End & Wooburns By Lawrence Dunhill

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE screenwriter Simon Monjack and actress wife Brittany Murphy were planning a family at the time of her death, his devastated mother told the Bucks Free Press.

Linda Monjack, of Elm Lane, Bourne End said: “They were madly in love and were going to start trying for a baby this year.

“We still can't believe she's gone.”

Miss Murphy died on December 20 after collapsing at home.

A coroner found the Clueless and Sin City star died from pneumonia, but iron-deficiency anaemia and prescription drug intoxication were secondary factors.

She met Mr Monjack, who grew up in Bourne End, in 2006 when auditioning for a film he was producing. They married six months later.

Mrs Monjack, said: “It was a whirlwind romance for both of them. Simon is absolutely devastated.

“Simon phoned me the day before she died. I spoke to Brittany - she didn't sound very well and she was going to see a doctor.

“When I phoned the next day Simon just picked up the phone and said 'my wife's dead' - it was just the most tragic moment and a complete shock.”

The loss was a ‘double whammy’ as his father William died when he was 15, she said.

Mr Monjack, 39, attended Juniper Hill School, Flackwell Heath and the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.

Mrs Monjack said: “I'm just trying to be there for him. But his Jewish faith is very strong and it's helping him through.”

The actress starred with Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted and had lead roles in 8 Mile with rapper Eminem in 2002 and Ashton Kutcher in Just Married the following year.

Mrs Monjack, a hypnotherapist, said Miss Murphy’s career was ‘falling apart’ before she met her son. Her last high-profile role was as a voice in 2006 animated feature Happy Feet.

She said: “She was trying to rebuild her career and the tragic thing is that she had lots of work lined up this year.”

Mr Monjack shot his first feature, Two Days, Nine Lives, in Marlow in 2000 and is credited as a writer and producer on Factory Girl, starring Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce.

He told reporters shortly after her death that his wife was a ‘wonderful, precious angel’ and a ‘beautiful woman taken way too young’.