The Veronicas open up about losing their mother to heartbreaking illness

The famous duo have opened up in a candid new interview about losing their mother to a heartbreaking illness.

Aussie pop duo The Veronicas have opened up about losing their mother to a heartbreaking illness in a candid new interview.

Twin sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso lost their beloved mother Colleen in 2021 following a long battle with progressive supranuclear palsy. She was diagnosed with the neurological disease and Lewy body dementia in 2018 after years of misdiagnosis.

Speaking to Richard and Christian Wilkins on their new podcast The Apple and The Tree, the Queensland-based singers shared how they have coped three years since their mum’s death.

“When you go through that kind of loss, your whole world perspective and attitude shifts so greatly. We have just so much more appreciation for…,” said Lisa.

Lisa Origliasso and Jessica Origliasso of The Veronicas. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Jessica continued where Lisa left off, saying: “Patience and time and gratitude for our connection and everything that was afforded to us because she gave us each other and because she encouraged us to always respect each other.

“I think that was always the thing is it’s really hard to explain a twin relationship but through the eyes of a mother she just wanted us always to be happy and love each other and she was like you’ll always have each other.

“She used to always say ‘You’ll always have each other’ and now we don’t have her, we realised like we always have each other and that means more to us than ever because we miss her so much. We have her in each other, it’s a crazy thing.

“It’s like Inception, a very wildly humbling journey we’ve had in that way. So lucky.”

The Veronicas with their mum, Colleen. Picture: Instagram/lisa_veronica

Jessica said their mum was the duo’s “biggest fan” and “greatest supporter”.

“Everything that we love, she was introducing us to queer culture and theatre and cinema and film and brilliant characters from such a young age.

“Every part of how we were shaped, or who we are, has been because she was so loving and open.

“We love and admire her more than ever now, in reflection. We wish she was here so we could continue to tell her, but I know she can hear us out there.

“We feel her everywhere. We’re constantly inspired by everything that she did for us and taught us and just in her energy and presence and creativity.”

Jessica said their mum was the duo’s “biggest fan” and “greatest supporter”. Picture: Instagram/lisa_veronica

Hosted by father and son duo, Richard and Christian Wilkins, The Apple and The Tree takes listeners behind the closed doors of some of Australia’s best known and well-loved families.

Some of the famous relatives who chat with the pair include father and son music legends Jimmy Barnes and David Campbell, the mega multi-hyphenate siblings Alli and Cody Simpson, and renowned cricketing brothers Brett and Shane Lee.

The Apple and The Tree is available to watch on 9Now with episodes dropping every Thursday and streaming on all podcast platforms

Originally published as The Veronicas open up about losing their mother to heartbreaking illness