Who Was Beau Rose Jessup? Lisa Maxwell’s Daughter Remembered

Key facts about Beau Rose Jessup

• Beau Jessup was a Columbia Journalism School master’s student who had previously studied at the London School of Economics and the University of Cambridge.
• SpecialName project was the website Beau created as a teenager to help Chinese parents choose English names for their babies.
• cause of death was not publicly determined in the available statements; the medical examiner said it remained under investigation.
• Lisa Maxwell, the actress known for The Bill, was Beau’s mother, and Paul Jessup was her father.

Beau Rose Jessup, daughter of The Bill actress Lisa Maxwell, was studying reporting at Columbia Journalism School when she died in New York City at age 27. This profile explains Beau’s education, journalism and business projects, family background and what has been publicly reported about her death.

Before pursuing journalism, Beau had already explored how real lives become headlines. From her teenage business to her writing and theater work, her experiences shaped an interest in storytelling and its responsibilities.

Who Was Beau Rose Jessup?

Beau Rose Jessup was a Columbia Journalism School master’s student who had studied social anthropology at the London School of Economics and writing for performance at the University of Cambridge. As a teenager, she created SpecialName, a website helping Chinese parents choose English names for their babies, and at 16 she started Beau’s Community Bakes, a weekly column for her local newspaper in England.

Beau’s journalism and business projects gave her experience both reporting on other people and becoming the subject of news coverage. She described those contrasting perspectives in an interview published by Columbia News.

Beau explained that Community Bakes made her a journalist representing other people’s experiences, while SpecialName made her the subject of international reporting. She said the experiences taught her about the power and responsibility of storytelling.

“With Community Bakes, I was the journalist, using a platform to represent other people’s experiences. With SpecialName, I became the story, watching my own intentions and experiences interpreted and repackaged by journalists around the world. Together, those experiences gave me an early appreciation of both the power and the responsibility of storytelling.”

How Did Beau Rose Jessup Die?

Beau Jessup’s cause and manner of death had not been determined in the public statements described in reports. Columbia Journalism School announced her death on its website on November 9, 2026, and the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner said on November 13 that the case remained under investigation.

Public statements confirmed that the medical examiner’s investigation was ongoing and that Beau was 27.

Columbia Journalism School announced Beau’s death in a statement on its website on November 9, 2026, E! News reported.

“Columbia Journalism School mourns the loss of Beau Jessup, a student in our M.S. program. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved her. The J-School is working with Beau’s family to offer support and assistance during this difficult time.”

The school did not share a cause of death. Beau was 27. On November 13, 2026, New York City’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner gave People a brief update.

“We are investigating. The cause and manner of death are pending further study.”

Sources also told Page Six that Beau’s death was not considered suspicious and involved no criminality. Two days after the school’s announcement, Columbia News published an interview Beau had completed and reviewed shortly before she died, with her family’s permission.

Who Are Beau Rose Jessup’s Parents?

Beau Rose Jessup’s parents were English actress Lisa Maxwell and her husband, Paul Jessup. Beau was their only child, E! News reported, and Maxwell celebrated Beau’s start at Columbia on X in September 2026.

Lisa Maxwell is best known for playing Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon on The Bill and for appearing as a panelist on Loose Women. Beau was Maxwell and Paul Jessup’s only child.

“Congratulations guys! Especially my daughter @BeauJessup over in NYC making us all super proud. ❤”

What Did Beau Rose Jessup Say About Lisa Maxwell?

In an October 2026 interview for Columbia News’ Notebook series, Beau Jessup said growing up with actress Lisa Maxwell influenced how she understood the gap between people’s lives and public narratives. She described journalism as a way to illuminate experiences, but also as something that could distort or simplify them.

Beau’s perspective on journalism centered on how media coverage can shape the stories told about people. Her comments connected her family experience with her interest in reporting.

“As the daughter of a television actress, I grew up with an unusual awareness of the distance between people’s lives and the stories told about them. I saw how journalism could illuminate someone’s experiences, but also how those experiences could be distorted, simplified, or transformed into a public narrative over which the subject had very little control.”

After graduation, Beau planned to work as a journalist and writer, covering people, culture and social questions. She also hoped to continue writing for the theater.

What was Beau Rose Jessup studying at Columbia?

Beau Rose Jessup was pursuing a master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School. Before Columbia, she studied social anthropology at the London School of Economics and writing for performance at the University of Cambridge.

What was SpecialName?

SpecialName was a website Beau created as a teenager to help Chinese parents choose English names for their babies. Beau said the project also made her the subject of international news coverage.

Did authorities announce Beau Jessup’s cause of death?

No cause of death was announced in the statements described in reports. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner said the cause and manner of death were pending further study.

Who were Beau Jessup’s parents?

Beau’s parents were actress Lisa Maxwell and Paul Jessup. She was their only child.