The heartbroken parents of a British aristocrat who plunged to her death from a Los Angeles hotel have paid tribute to their ‘courageous’ daughter who ‘took all life’s opportunities without fear.’
In a moving statement to mother-of-two Isabelle Thomas, 39, they described her as ‘the light of our lives.’
The wife of an Oscar nominated Hollywood producer is believed to have taken her own life after falling from a high balcony of Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles on Monday evening.
Her mum Penelope Lawrence and dad Sir Henry Lawrence, the 7th Baronet of Lucknow, have said: ‘We remember her as a soul mate, beautiful daughter, sister, devoted mother and wife.’
Divorcee Mrs Lawrence, first wife of Sir Henry, from Bath in Somerset told how she was flying to America following the tragedy which had ‘overwhelmed’ the family, saying: ‘It is the worst possible nightmare.’
Isabelle was described as ‘adored, bright and charming’. She is survived by her two young daughters
The aristocrat’s suicide was described by family members as a ‘horrific loss’ but said her husband is being supported by his mother and friends
Isabelle Thomas pictured with her husband, film producer Bradley, at a BAFTA party in Beverly Hills three weeks ago
Isabelle Thomas, 39, pictured with husband Bradley, 58 fell from a high balcony of Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles on Monday evening. Her death is being treated as a suicide
Paying tribute she said: ‘Isabelle was the light of our lives. She was courageous and took all life’s opportunities without fear, showering love and kindness on her friends, family, and children along the way.
‘Endlessly inventive and creative, she took her Biological Sciences degree from Oxford and applied it towards communicating positivity in the world.
‘Her projects were as diverse as her passions, reflecting a curiosity about people and our culture that inspired everyone lucky enough to spend time with her.
‘We remember her as a soul mate, beautiful daughter, sister, devoted mother and wife.’
Mrs Lawrence added: ‘Our family has been overwhelmed by her sudden death this week and we are infinitely grateful to her many friends for their outpouring of love.
‘We ask for privacy to grieve and that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Choose Love, a refugee support charity that Isabelle supported passionately.’
The mother of two leaves behind her husband, Killers of the Flower Moon producer Bradley Thomas, 58, and her two young daughters.
Meanwhile, her sister-in-law Diana O’Donnell described Isabelle as a ‘forever friend’, ‘adored, bright and charming’.
She told DailyMail.com that Bradley’s mother and niece had flown to LA to look after him and she would soon follow, while his four male friends are ‘waking the kids up in the morning and feeding them breakfast and reading them stories’ as he grieves.
‘It was really easy with her. She just felt like a forever person in my life, a forever friend, and a wonderful sister-in-law. We’re all really sad and broken. It’s just such a horrific loss to all of us,’ she said.
Izzy, as she was known to her friends, was the daughter of Sir Henry Lawrence, 7th Baronet of Lucknow and his ex-wife Penelope Nunan.
She met Bradley in LA while working as a documentarian and married in 2018.
Diana, 59, said she knew what her brother was going through, as she lost her husband to suicide 20 years ago.
‘It’s hit our family more than once,’ she said. ‘We don’t realize how vulnerable and how fragile we are. There’s no trying to understand it. It’s just chemical imbalance, or whatever you want to call it.
‘It’s really hard being a single parent. He’s extremely lucky because he’s very well-liked and loved by so many.
‘We’re very fortunate to have this circle of friends around us and family.
‘I had the luxury of having things very quiet, not so public. I worry about these little girls growing up one day and Googling their mom.
‘These little girls are gonna grow up without their mom and have a lot of questions and a lot of sadness, because mom’s not there to watch them grow and celebrate all their milestones that they’re going to have in their life.’
Her sister-in-law Diana O’Donnell (pictured) described Isabelle as a ‘forever friend’. O’Donnell also previously lost her husband to suicide
The Thomas family have suffered a succession of devastating losses, including their father Charlie (pictured) who died of pancreatic cancer in 2022 age 81.
Diana was full of praise for her late sister-in-law.
‘We adored Izzy, she was bright. She was charming. She was just always lovely. She never had anything bad to say about anyone,’ the Maryland native said.
‘Izzy was just happy to have a piece of you, no matter what you gave her. She was really easy and simple in that regard, she never put demands on anyone.’
Bradley’s sister declined to comment on Isabelle’s mental health, saying ‘her health situation was private’, but added that ‘obviously someone is struggling mentally, to be able to go to the extreme of taking their own life.’
The Thomas family have suffered a succession of devastating losses, after Diana’s husband’s suicide, her and Bradley’s young aunt who was raised like a sibling to them but died of lung cancer in recent years, and their father Charlie who died of pancreatic cancer in 2022 age 81.
Bradley’s older sister is intensely proud of her brother’s achievements, listing on Facebook the Oscar Best Picture nomination for Killers of the Blood Moon and its lead Leonardo DiCaprio’s Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a drama.
Bradley has also produced hit movies There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber.
Diana posted lovingly about her late sister-in-law, sharing Isabelle’s wedding photos in 2018 and a photo of her in March 2021 with her two baby daughters.
O’Donnell declined to comment on Isabelle’s mental health, saying ‘her health situation was private’, but added that ‘obviously someone is struggling mentally, to be able to go to the extreme of taking their own life.’
The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death as suicide, citing multiple traumatic injuries
Isabelle reportedly jumped from a balcony on a high floor at the Hotel Angeleno in LA Monday and didn’t leave a note, though police have not confirmed those details.
The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death as suicide, citing multiple traumatic injuries.
The LAPD told DailyMail.com police responded to the scene about a deceased woman found in the pool area.
On Friday they declined to comment further, saying the case was being handled by the Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner says they will issue a report when the case is closed.
She moved in celebrity circles and even once partied with singer Amy Winehouse.
She fell from the Hotel Angeleno in an apparent suicide and was discovered dead at the scene by first responders.
The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office has listed the manner of death as suicide, with the official cause as ‘multiple traumatic injuries’ consistent with a major fall.
Isabelle and Bradley married in 2018 and they had twin daughters Poppy and Grace.
The two were last pictured together on January 13 at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party in Beverly Hills.
During her childhood, Isabelle attended the private King Edward’s School and Prior Park College in Bath.
She graduated from Oxford University with a Neuroscience degree.
