Geelong-born actor Guy Pearce opens up about mother’s memory

GEELONG’S Guy Pearce has candidly opened up about the pain of his mum no longer recognising him.

Guy Pearce has shared the heartache of his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease.

GEELONG’S Guy Pearce has candidly opened up about the pain of his mum no longer recognising him.

The homegrown actor expressed his heartache, sharing a poem his mum gave him several years ago, before Alzheimer’s disease cruelly stole any memory she had of Pearce.

“Sadly her Alzheimer’s means she doesn’t know me anymore,” Pearce said.

“However, I know I’ll carry her wisdom with me forever.”

The poem, If, is from British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling and is written from the perspective of a parent talking to their son.

It ends with the line: “Yours is the earth and every thing that’s in it; and, what is more, you’ll be a man my son.”

Pearce’s disclosure has led to a stream of well-wishes from fans, as well as locals who know his mum, Anne.

Earlier in her life, Anne was heavily involved with the Karingal charity and played a pivotal role in helping people living with disabilities.

It was a connection that coincided with the birth of her daughter, Tracy, who carries a rare genetic disorder.

Among those to offer their support to Pearce was former Geelong mayoress and Victorian Liberals candidate Paula Kontelj.

A young Guy Pearce pictured with his mum, Anne. Picture: Twitter

She told Pearce: “I remember your mum fondly as a member at Geelong’s Gym and for donating to (Barwon Health’s) Andrew Love Cancer Centre via the Mayoral Ball in 2001 #sendinglove.”

Entertainment commentator Peter Ford said the situation was “very sad” but commended Pearce as a “remarkable man”.

Pearce responded in an open message to his followers saying Alzheimer’s — like most illnesses — was a cruel disease.

“It’s comforting to know there’s a bunch of us in this together,” he said.

“My heart goes out to you and your loved ones too. Life, eh!”

Pearce, a former Geelong College student, has provided occasional insights into his mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s in the past.

In a blog post in 2015, he revealed she had broken her hip after falling, which led to Pearce moving her into a nursing home.

“Funnily enough, the surgeon told me her amazing recovery was probably due to having Alzheimer’s and forgetting she’d fallen and therefore having no hesitation in getting up and walking around once out of hospital,” he said.

“Tricky times though. You’ll be pleased to know she’s doing really well, and the lovely people at Arcare in Point Lonsdale have been great with her and her recovery.”

The actor’s dad, Stuart, was an RAF Squadron leader and test pilot who died in a crash at Avalon Airport when Pearce was eight years old.

In August last year, Pearce and girlfriend Carice van Houten became parents with the birth of son Monte.

Originally published as Geelong-born actor Guy Pearce opens up about mother’s memory