Real Housewives of London star says: ‘I know I’ll face attack. But I’m not doing this to prove anything, I’m doing this to shine a light’

Esther Higham (EH): Tell me more about your faith journey - were you brought up in a Christian family? 

Juliet Mayhew (JM): Yes, I come from a long line of Christians. My grandfather was a naval captain whose ship went down. He cried out to God: “If you save my men, I’ll serve you.” Every man survived and he kept his promise, becoming a vicar in the Cotswolds. He and my grandmother, who was a worship leader, had ten children – eight survived. I have 36 cousins, and nearly all of us love Jesus. 

My dad trained in medicine, met Mother Teresa and became a missionary doctor. I spent much of my childhood in war zones, going with him on trips to places like the Himalayas. One moment we’d be in a bamboo hut, bombs falling overhead, and the next we’d be back in London or at a palace. Despite that, I was the ‘odd one out’; this wild, showbiz-loving kid in a family of medics and academics. But they supported me. I trained at ArtsEd (the performing arts school) in London, won awards and performed professionally from a young age. 

EH: Was your faith always personal? Or did it become real later? 

JM: It was always there. At four and a half, I snuck out of my sleeping bag at church to watch The Cross and the Switchblade, which I wasn’t supposed to see! I crawled under the chairs, got to the front and did the altar call sobbing: “Yes, I need Jesus!” 

But as I got older, I struggled with the tension between my faith and my career. My parents were saving lives. What was I doing? Entertaining. And sometimes playing roles that clashed with their values – like Roxy Hart in Chicago. My dad once asked: “Does that really glorify God?” And I said: “I can’t be the nun in every play!” 

There came a turning point when I was offered major roles in Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar. But I’d also been offered a place in Riding Lights, a Christian theatre company. My agent thought I was crazy to even consider it – they paid almost nothing. But the director said to me: “We prayed, and God said you’re meant to be on this team. Pray about it and decide.” 

That weekend, I went to a prayer conference with my dad. During worship, the Holy Spirit hit me so powerfully, I knew I was going back to Riding Lights. I showed up Monday, said nothing and the director just smiled and said: “Nice to see you.” 

EH: What was that year like? 

JM: It was the best and worst year of my life. We worked in schools, prisons, council estates, bringing the gospel. Lives were being changed. And every weekend, we performed in major theatres. It was humbling. I went from having my own dressing room and wig master to getting changed in a broom cupboard with a mop and bucket. 

But through that year, I truly understood who I was in Christ. It shaped my boldness. I learned that I don’t need to choose between being in the arts and following Jesus. I can do both – with integrity, with faith and with his leading. It was such a privilege to go into those areas of real deprivation, working with children who had really difficult lives, and just watch God touch them.

I went from having my own dressing room and wig master to getting changed in a broom cupboard with a mop and bucket

That year defined me in my faith. I came back stronger, knowing two things with absolute clarity: where God wanted me, in theatre, and where I stood in my faith. I worked various jobs, and honestly, God provided for me in such extraordinary ways. I was surrounded by incredible people. I met my husband. The rest is history. 

EH: It feels like that’s been a real theme throughout your life; this exposure to real hardship, but at the same time, the glitz and glam of showbiz, arts and culture. After decades of straddling those two worlds, what has that shown you about God, and how he’s formed you? 

JM: You know, God is here for the one. That’s it. I’ve seen so much of the smoke and mirrors in my life, and honestly, I’m just not impressed by any of it anymore. What impresses me is how deeply God loves. 

Becoming a mother, standing for truth, watching God bless our family, it’s been beautiful. But I’ve learned to hold things lightly. Life is a vapour. It can vanish in an instant. Just this morning, I was reading Colossians 3, about living as those made alive in Christ. Life is full of choices, and the road is narrow, but it’s good and rewarding. 

One of the hardest things for me has been healing from the mindset that I’m only as good as my last job. Even knowing Jesus, I still wrestled with that. But I’ve had to relearn that my identity is in him. I sit at the right hand of Christ. I’m a child of God. Not defined by things, status or appearance. 

EH: Was there a time when you hid your acting past? 

JM: Oh, completely. For a long time, I never talked about being an actor. I didn’t want people to be impressed by that. I wanted to be loved for who I really was, not for ‘Juliet the actress’. I went through a whole period of life where I didn’t speak about my past at all. I was a wife and a mum, living in Chelsea, doing the school run. I thought that was safer. 

But doing this show (The Real Housewives of London) has challenged me to revisit that part of my story. They’ve asked for old photos, and I’m like: “We didn’t take photos back then!” We didn’t have phones with cameras. It’s as if my life was a race I never paused to document. But I did that to myself, because I believed if I didn’t have the right image, I wouldn’t be accepted. 

I’ve seen so much of the smoke and mirrors in my life, and honestly, I’m just not impressed by any of it anymore

Now, God is showing me that those gifts and experiences he gave me, they matter. They need to be celebrated. But I had to come to the end of myself to see that. 

EH: So, what does this season of your life feel like? As you look back at all these threads, and also look forward, what do you feel God is saying now? 

JM: I believe Jesus is coming back soon. You can see it in what’s happening in the world, politically and spiritually. It’s urgent. We need to be ready. As a mother, as a woman of faith, as someone who has led Bible studies, I feel that urgency. We’re all called to lead, to represent Jesus. 

This season, for me, is about being bold. I’ve written a song about God’s redemption and the mistakes I’ve made. It’s a gospel song. It’s about telling the truth. People are hungry for truth. 

I’ve had a lot of criticism, mainly from Christians, actually. Someone once said: “You’re fake, your life is a facade.” That hit me like a punch. Because honesty and truth are core to who I am. I think the enemy throws things like that at you when you’re standing in truth. And yes, I can be like Marmite; people either love me or hate me, but I speak truth in love. 

I hope this platform gives me the chance to show Jesus, not just in words, but in how I live. I know I’ll face attack. But I’m not doing this to prove anything, I’m doing this to shine a light. If people see the love of Jesus through me, that’s what matters.

You can watch The Real Housewives of London on Hayu via streaming services NOW or Apple TV. Juliet is on Instagram @juicymayhew