Australia cricket legend Shane Warne and British bombshell Liz Hurley dated for three years
British model and actress Elizabeth Hurley has spoken movingly about the lasting emotional impact of the tragic death of ex-fiance and Australia cricket legend Shane Warne. The ‘King of Spin’ ended his glittering career with 145 Test appearances and 708 wickets but died suddenly in 2022 at the age of 52 after suffering a heart attack while holidaying in Thailand.
Hurley, now 60, began dating the late leg-spinner in 2010 while still married to Indian businessman Arun Nayar. The couple got engaged a year later after Hurley had filed for divorce, with the star-studded relationship attracting significant media attention before the pair amicably parted ways in 2013.
Despite their split, Warne would later reflect fondly on their time together. Four years before his death, the wrist-spinner revealed that his time with Hurley was the happiest he had ever been, telling the Mirror: “I was more in love with Elizabeth than I’d realised I could be. I miss the love we had. My years with Elizabeth were the happiest of my life.”
After the cricket legend’s death, Hurley took to social media to pay tribute to her “beloved lionheart”, adding that Warne was “one of the best men I’ve ever known”. Her film director son Damian said his “heart is broken” and revealed Warne, widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, had been “a father figure for most of my formative years”.
Speaking to The Telegraph while promoting her son’s directorial debut Strictly Confidential, Hurley said: “We have suffered loss. And interestingly, this movie sort of pulls on those feelings of loss quite a lot – and in a lot of Damian’s work I do see that.
READ MORE: Shane Warne’s kids show true feelings about their mum cosying up to world famous singerREAD MORE: Michael Vaughan’s dad dies after England cricket legend rushed home from Ashes
“Yes, it’s a bond…It was appalling losing Shane, it was a terrible thing. And it’s a sadness, you know, that stays with you a long time.
“I know as we get older we’re going to experience more and more loss, but Damian as a young man has experienced probably more than most and I think it does affect you. I think it affects his writing and it does affect him as an artist.”
In November last year, Hurley travelled down under for an emotional reunion with Warne’s family. Speaking on the Travel Secrets podcast, Hurley said: “Last November we went to the Melbourne Cup and it was the first time I’d been back to Melbourne since Shane died.
“We knew it was going to be a very traumatic trip so we linked it into going racing and also an opportunity to get some closure in other ways.”
Having been unable to attend her ex-fiance’s state funeral in 2022 due to work and travel commitments, Hurley used the trip to catch up with Warne’s loved ones including his mother, father, brother and three children – Brooke, Jackson and Summer – from his marriage to yoga teacher Simone Callahan.
“All his family are there [in Melbourne],” Hurley added. “So I could see his mum and dad and brother, and it was the first time I’ve seen them since. I’ve seen the kids before because they’ve come to England.
“Going back was very bittersweet. I got very upset, but then I was very glad that I went. And I know when I next go back to Australia, I’ll be fine.”
