Maisie Mae Roffey: The Private Life of Julie Walters’ Daughter

Last Updated on February 14, 2026 by Vasid Qureshi CEO & Founder, Strategic Business Contributor

Who is Maisie Mae Roffey?

Maisie Mae Roffey, born on 26 April 1988, is best known as the daughter of acclaimed British actress Dame Julie Walters. While her mother has enjoyed an illustrious career spanning decades in theatre, film, and television—including roles in the Harry Potter franchise and Mamma Mia films—Maisie Mae has deliberately chosen a more private existence away from the entertainment industry. Unlike many celebrity offspring, she has maintained a low public profile, focusing instead on her personal life and family business ventures. This comprehensive profile explores the documented aspects of her life, her remarkable journey through childhood health challenges, and her current role within her family’s organic farming enterprise.

Quick Facts Overview

Maisie Mae Roffey’s Early Life and Family Background

Maisie Mae Roffey was born in 1988 to Julie Walters and Grant Roffey, a British organic farmer whom her mother met at a pub in Fulham in 1985. Her father, Grant Roffey, initially worked as a patrol man for the Automobile Association (AA), before transitioning to organic farming. Her parents married in 1997 in New York City after a 12-year relationship, establishing a stable family unit that prioritized privacy and rural living away from the celebrity spotlight.

Growing up, Maisie Mae was the only child of one of Britain’s most beloved actresses. Despite her mother’s high-profile career—which included stage performances, major film roles, and television work—the family deliberately chose to raise her away from the intense scrutiny of the entertainment industry. The family settled on a 70-acre organic farm in West Sussex, creating an environment focused on nature, agriculture, and family values rather than showbusiness.

A Childhood Marked by Resilience: The Leukaemia Battle

The most significant public chapter in Maisie Mae Roffey’s early life came when she was diagnosed with acute leukaemia at the age of two. This diagnosis fundamentally altered her family’s life and marked a turning point in her mother’s career decisions.

During her treatment, Maisie Mae underwent intensive medical procedures, including bone marrow extraction without anaesthetic, a procedure that required her father to hold her down as she endured considerable pain. Her mother, Julie Walters, reflected on the trauma of this experience in a 2002 interview, noting her inability to be present during the procedure due to infection control protocols. This period tested the family’s emotional resilience and demonstrated the depth of commitment required to support a critically ill child.

The positive aspect of Maisie Mae’s health journey was her remarkable recovery. She was eventually given the all-clear from leukaemia, becoming a survivor of childhood cancer—a triumph that profoundly influenced her mother’s life choices and creative work.

Impact on Julie Walters’ Career

Maisie Mae’s illness had substantial professional ramifications for her mother. Julie Walters took a seven-year break from acting in theatre, primarily to spend time with her recovering daughter. During this period, she focused on family rather than professional advancement—a decision that reflected her priorities.

Additionally, her daughter’s illness inspired her to write the book “Baby Talk” in 1990, which became a documented record of her experiences navigating childhood leukaemia with a young child.

The media attention surrounding Maisie Mae’s health was significant. Several fabricated stories were created, and photographers camped on the family’s private property. Eventually, Walters decided to go public about Maisie’s illness and auctioned an exclusive interview, with a London newspaper paying $30,000—a fee that went directly to the Royal Marsden’s children’s unit. This decision garnered sympathy and even attracted the attention of Princess Diana, who inquired about her daughter’s wellbeing.

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Maisie Mae Roffey’s Transition to Adulthood and Business Involvement

Following her recovery from leukaemia, Maisie Mae Roffey transitioned into adulthood as a healthy, private individual. Unlike her mother, who embraced a public career, Maisie chose to remain largely outside the public eye.

Corporate Directorships

Public records reveal that Maisie Mae was involved in her family’s business operations. Specifically, she served as a Director of FIVEDAWN LIMITED (Company Number 01818995) from 1 December 2009 until 31 March 2014. FIVEDAWN LIMITED is classified as a private limited company operating in performing arts, likely serving as a holding company for the family’s creative and business interests.

Her resignation from the directorship in 2014 marked a shift in her formal involvement with corporate structures, though she likely remained connected to family business matters informally. Currently, the company is managed by her parents, Grant and Julia Mary Walters (Julie Walters), who serve as Secretary and Director respectively.

Life on Lee House Farm

The centerpiece of the Roffey family’s life is Lee House Farm (roffey.biz), a 70-acre organic farm situated on the Surrey-Sussex border near Plaistow, Billingshurst. This property has been the family home since 1993, when the family arrived at the “beautiful oasis of wildlife and nature”.

Lee House Farm operates as a mixed, free-range organic farm inspected and licensed by the Organic Food Federation, producing organic meat including pork, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and organic vegetables. The farm uses rare breed pigs (Gloucester Old Spot and Large Black), Shetland sheep, native Sussex cows, and traditional free-range chickens housed in mobile units. The operation includes a heritage of organic farming, with local residents recounting that the land previously produced lettuce and strawberries that were shipped to Harrods in the 1950s.

While Maisie Mae’s specific role in current farm operations is not publicly documented, her family residence on the property connects her to this agricultural enterprise. The farm serves as the documented address for the Roffey family across multiple official records.

Maisie Mae Roffey’s Private Life and Media Presence

Maisie Mae Roffey has deliberately maintained a private life distinct from her mother’s celebrity status. Unlike many children of famous actors, she has not pursued entertainment careers, pursued public-facing roles, or sought media attention. Her absence from social media, entertainment industry events, and tabloid coverage reflects a conscious choice to live outside the spotlight.

This privacy is particularly noteworthy given her mother’s prominence. Julie Walters has been celebrated as a four-time BAFTA winner and two-time Academy Award nominee, known for roles in Billy Elliot (2000), the Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011), and Mamma Mia (2008). Yet her daughter has chosen a fundamentally different path, grounded in rural life and family business rather than entertainment.

Family Context: Julie Walters’ Recent Health Journey

In 2018, Julie Walters’ health crisis renewed public attention on the Roffey family, though Maisie Mae’s response remained characteristically private. Julie Walters was diagnosed with stage III bowel cancer. Notably, Julie Walters did not initially inform her daughter Maisie of the cancer diagnosis, instead telling her she needed an appendix removal because she “couldn’t say the word ‘cancer’ to her“.

Julie underwent surgery and chemotherapy and entered remission. Throughout this ordeal, the family maintained its privacy, with Maisie Mae supporting her mother away from public view. The diagnosis prompted Julie to step back from demanding acting roles, signaling a shift toward spending more time with family.

Summary: A Life Beyond the Spotlight

Maisie Mae Roffey represents a distinctive choice among children of celebrities: to live a private, grounded life rather than capitalize on parental fame. Born in 1988 to Julie Walters and Grant Roffey, she survived a life-threatening illness in early childhood that reshaped her family’s priorities and her mother’s career trajectory. In adulthood, she has maintained her privacy while remaining connected to her family’s organic farming enterprise in West Sussex.

Her story is one of resilience, informed by her triumph over leukaemia, and of deliberate choice, reflected in her decision to remain outside the entertainment industry. While limited public information exists about her current professional activities, her documented involvement in family business operations and her residence at Lee House Farm confirm her continued connection to her family’s agricultural and business interests.

Maisie Mae Roffey’s life demonstrates that not all children of celebrities seek the spotlight—some choose instead to build lives centered on family, privacy, and meaningful work behind the scenes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is Maisie Mae Roffey?

Maisie Mae Roffey is the only daughter of the multi-award-winning British actress Dame Julie Walters and organic farmer Grant Roffey. Born in April 1988, she is known for her resilience as a survivor of childhood leukaemia and for choosing a private, rural life over the entertainment industry.

2. What happened to Maisie Mae Roffey as a child?

At age two, Maisie Mae was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Her health battle was a defining period for her family; Julie Walters took a seven-year hiatus from major theatre roles to support her recovery. Maisie eventually received the all-clear and has remained in good health throughout her adult life.

3. Does Maisie Mae Roffey act?

No. Unlike many children of famous actors, Maisie Mae Roffey has never pursued a career in the performing arts. She has deliberately avoided the spotlight, with no documented roles in film, television, or theatre. Her professional background is largely in private business and agricultural management.

4. What does Maisie Mae Roffey do for a living in 2026?

While she maintains a high degree of privacy, public records indicate her involvement in family business ventures. She previously served as a Director for FIVEDAWN LIMITED and is closely associated with the operations of Lee House Farm, her family’s 70-acre organic farm in West Sussex.

5. Is Maisie Mae Roffey married or does she have children?

As of 2026, Maisie Mae’s marital status and personal family life remain private. She has not publicly shared details regarding a spouse or children, a decision consistent with her lifelong commitment to staying out of the tabloid media.

6. Where does Maisie Mae Roffey live?

Maisie Mae is associated with Lee House Farm in Plaistow, West Sussex. The 70-acre estate is an award-winning organic farm that has been the Roffey family home since 1993, focused on rearing rare-breed livestock and organic produce.

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