Wish You Were Here star Emily Lloyd is expecting her first child – a baby girl - after battling mental health problems.
The 43 year-old actress discovered she was pregnant just a month after dad, actor Roger Lloyd-Pack, died from pancreatic cancer in January, aged 69.
Emily spent time in a psychiatric hospital for treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome and mild schizophrenia.
She was knocked for six when she lost her beloved father, who was most famous for playing Trigger in Only Fools and Horses.
But now she believes she has turned a corner after becoming pregnant with former rock star Christian Jupp's child.
Emily told The Sunday People: "I was amazed that I had fallen pregnant so soon after losing my dad. Maybe it was meant to be.
"I am so pleased. To be a mother was something I always wanted.
"I'm hoping the worst days are behind me now. I've a lot of support around me and have had a stable four years.
"I've had to call on a lot of inner strength in the past and I hope I can be stronger for my baby."
Emily said: "I was so excited. I knew I wanted a child but realised at my age it might not be possible. Although it came as quite a surprise. Christian and I both knew we wanted this and that sometimes you can't plan when it happens.
"On our very first date we discussed baby names. We just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
"Christian met dad and he was a great support to me during his illness.
"One of the last things I said to my dad, when he was slipping away, was that Christian had said it was his intention to marry me one day.
"I asked him if he thought that was a good thing. He smiled and said, 'I do'."
Emily burst onto the movie scene at the age of 16, playing rebellious teenager Lynda Mansell in the 1987 British classic Wish You Were Here.
Her portrayal of the foul-mouthed teenage exhibitionist, who becomes a single mum in a staid 50s seaside town, won Emily a Bafta nomination and a string of roles in Hollywood.
She appeared in Robert Redford's 1992 film A River Runs Through It, dated leading men including Sean Penn and Val Kilmer and was engaged to movie director Danny Huston.
But she never really settled down and suffered a series of setbacks as her mental illness put paid to her glittering career. But now, she is in a far happier place.
She said that although Christian had been hoping for a child at some point, when she broke the news to him his reaction was not what she expected.
Emily explained: "At my father's funeral Christian was sitting next to former Spurs captain Gary Mabbutt.
"He invited us to watch a match but on the way to the game Christian and I were on a train waiting for it to depart when we started having an argument.
"I chose this moment to tell him I was pregnant. He stormed off the train and I went to the game on my own.
"In the morning he calmed down and realised it was really happening. We were having a baby together. Maybe that wasn't the best time to tell him."
Emily is now six months pregnant and she said: "So far I haven't had much morning sickness and my appetite doesn't seem to have changed."
She added: "Seriously, though, I can't quite believe this is happening – after the sorrow I felt at the start of the year.
"And we are just really looking forward to building a beautiful life for our beautiful baby."