Most fans of HBO‘s War will likely find tune in to tonight’s all-new episode just expecting the seedy, soapy drama that’s come to define the legal hit. After all, last week’s episode ended with Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox) realizing that Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux) was Cathcarts & Sons’ mole the whole time, thanks to Johnny foolishly quoting David Schill’s (Miles Jupp) Keanu Reeves line. (And, yes, it is a hoot watching Johnny deal with getting “rumbled.”) However, if you stick through all of War Episode 7 “The Juicy Bit,” you’ll actually get to a truly tragic button at the end of the episode. Before the credits roll on War Episode 7, the show pays loving tribute to Ava Gillis.
So who was Ava Gillis? What happened to her? And why did War honor her with a moving memorial at the end of this week’s episode?
Here’s everything you need to know about Ava Gillis and HBO’s War…
Who Was Ava Gillis on War?
Ava Gillis never appears onscreen in HBO’s War, but she was a key part of the show’s production. Gillis was a talented makeup artist who worked on major projects like Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Netflix’s steamy romance Bridgerton before her tragic death this summer. Gillis, 26, was killed in car crash in Wrelton, England on July 26, 2026. According to North Yorkshire police, she was driving her white Volkswagon Polo down a carriageway when a black Audi A4 collided with her vehicle. First responders attempted to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gilles was a BAFTA member who had over five years of experience working on film and in TV. In addition to War, Barbie, and Bridgerton, she also contributed to Wonder Woman 1984, The Crown, and The Acolyte.
In her family’s tribute, they noted that in “almost 27 years with us, you packed in so much, study, travel, and work. It was a privilege to have raised you and loved you. Our beautiful daughter, sister and granddaughter, your loss is immeasurable.”
Gilles posted photos of her many international adventures, craft projects, and culinary works on her personal Instagram, @avafgilles. In her final post, she wrote, “I’d never explored the concept of being jealous of yourself, but the me, right now in Ireland, is sick to death of me from two months ago,” along with a carousel of vacation pics. The comments are full of messages of love and mourning.
Before her death, Gilles also completed work on the upcoming Ayo Edebiri and Will Sharpe series Prodigies and a short film called Route Cause.
The War Season 1 finale will air on Thursday, Dec. 19 on HBO and HBO Max.
