Meet Jacqueline Luesby’s Parents: Greta M. Dickinson and Colin Luesby

Jacqueline Luesby, born in 1959 in England, is a British lawyer best recognized as the mother of acclaimed actress Emma Watson.

She grew up in a traditional English family. She later attended Oxford University, where she studied law and began her professional career.

Luesby is 66 years old. She is the daughter of Colin Luesby and Greta M. Dickinson, with no publicly documented siblings.

Her personal life has included two marriages. Her first marriage was to fellow lawyer Chris Watson, with whom she had two children: Emma Watson (born April 15, 1990) and Alex Watson (born December 15, 1992). Following their divorce in 1995, custody of the children was shared, and Luesby settled in Oxfordshire with them.

She later remarried Jonathan Taylor, though details about this union remain largely private. Reports suggest the marriage introduced stepchildren to her household, including David Taylor and Andrew Taylor.

While Jacqueline is best known as the supportive mother of Emma Watson—actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador—her story is also rooted in her own family legacy. Raised by her parents, Colin Luesby and Greta M. Dickinson, she embodies the quiet resilience of a post-war English generation, balancing her professional career in law with her roles as a mother and matriarch.

Greta M. Dickinson

Greta M. Dickinson was born in 1932, a child of the Great Depression era, to John George Dickinson (1907–1997) and Winifred Jane Bonsor (1904–1980).

Growing up in England during a time of economic hardship and World War II, Greta’s early life was likely shaped by the challenges of rationing and the importance of community solidarity. Though specific details about her childhood or career remain scarce, her generation’s experiences fostered values of perseverance and adaptability.

As a woman of the 1930s, Greta witnessed the slow expansion of opportunities for women, from the echoes of the suffrage movement to the feminist stirrings of the post-war era. These influences likely shaped her approach to raising Jacqueline, born in 1958, instilling a sense of independence and intellectual drive that would define her daughter’s path as a lawyer and mother.

Greta’s role as a mother extended beyond the home, as her values resonated in Jacqueline’s commitment to family and career. The stability Greta provided during England’s transformative years—marked by cultural shifts like the rise of rock ‘n’ roll and the Swinging Sixties—offered Jacqueline a foundation to pursue her ambitions.

Greta’s legacy, though quiet, is evident in the resilience and activism of her granddaughter, Emma Watson, suggesting a matriarchal thread of strength that spans generations.

Colin Luesby

Colin Luesby, born in 1927, came of age during the tumult of World War II, a period that defined his generation’s grit and resolve. Born to Horace Luesby and Edith Speck, Colin’s early life is less documented, with public records offering little insight into his profession or wartime role.

However, as a man of his time, he likely navigated the challenges of post-war Britain with a focus on family and stability. Marrying Greta sometime in the mid-20th century, Colin became a partner in building a household that welcomed Jacqueline in 1958, a year when Britain was on the cusp of cultural reinvention.

Colin’s influence as a father is seen in the grounded upbringing Jacqueline received, which equipped her to balance a demanding career in commercial law with motherhood.

His era’s emphasis on community and perseverance likely shaped the family’s values, providing a backdrop for Jacqueline’s eventual move to Paris and her role in raising Emma and Alex after her divorce from Chris Watson in 1995.