Damian Hurley praises mother Elizabeth, 58, for being ‘800 parents in one’ after she raised him alone following bitter paternity dispute with his late father Steve Bing

She raised him alone following a bitter paternity dispute.

And now Damian Hurley has praised his mother Elizabeth for filling the role of ‘800 parents at the same time’, saying that they are so close they feel like ‘siblings.’

The model-turned-filmmaker, 21, whose businessman father Steve Bing was not part of his life, said he does not feel like he missed out on anything growing up in a single-parent household.

‘No. Mum filled the role of 800 parents at the same time. We are so close. Sometimes like siblings,’ he told German show Exclusiv.

Elizabeth, 58, conceived her only child during a short-lived relationship with Steve not long after she split from Hugh Grant in 2000.

Closer than ever: The model-turned-filmmaker, whose businessman father Steve Bing was not part of his life, said he does not feel like he missed out on anything growing up in a single-parent household

She gave birth to Damian in 2002 but the businessman contested paternity, claiming that they had been in a non-exclusive relationship at the time.

Although a DNA test proved that Bing was Damian’s father, he did not become part of his life and they are thought to have never even met. Bing died in 2020 when he jumped from the 27th floor of his Los Angeles apartment building.

He and Bing’s daughter Kira Bonder – the paternity of whom he also contested – were cut out of his father’s will following his death when their grandfather appealed the inheritance on the grounds that they were born out of wedlock.

Damian, who was signed by modelling agency Tess Management in 2018, went to the £37,000-a-year Wellington College in Berkshire where he boarded.

‘Many people are critical of sending their children away so young, but he liked it. He loved his school, he had great friends and for him it was a great adventure,’ said Ms Hurley of her decision to send him there.

Damian is now attempting to follow in his mother’s footsteps by trying to break into Hollywood with his first role behind the camera, directing thriller Strictly Confidential.

But he’s not straying far from her coattails as Ms Hurley stars in his first filmmaking endeavour and is a co-producer. Damian even had to direct her in a series of racy scenes.

‘It was really great. I think Mum is a very respectful actress, very respectful to me as a creator and director. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Working with people you love is great,’ he said.

Sweet: ‘No. Mum filled the role of 800 parents at the same time. We are so close. Sometimes like siblings,’ he told German show Exclusiv (pictured together) 

Team of two: Elizabeth 58, conceived her only child during a short-lived relationship with Steve not long after she split from Hugh Grant in 2000 (pictured in 2018)

Father: She gave birth to Damian in 2002 but Steve contested paternity, claiming that they had been in a non-exclusive relationship at the time (Steve and Liz pictured during their brief relationship)

Liz said: ‘He wanted to go on set and learn, and it made me nervous. But when I saw all the things he’s achieved up to now, where he is now in his early 20s. He’s done his first film, that’s a big deal.’

Damian recently said that ‘the minute the film was greenlit’, his mother ‘dropped everything and raced out to the beautiful Caribbean to help’ him on the shoot.

The mystery drama follows Mia, played by CBBC star Georgia Lock, 26, as she is drawn into a ‘world of sex, duplicity and betrayal’ while trying to uncover the mystery of her best friend Rebecca’s suicide.

Damian and his grandmother Angela help take the bikini photos of his mother that she posts on her Instagram account to promote her Elizabeth Hurley Beach collection.

‘It’s a family business? Absolutely. Taking photos. a boring family business, but the best ones are from him,’ Elizabeth said.

Multi-millionaire Steve, 55, took his own life in June 2020, jumping from his 27th floor apartment in Los Angeles.

While it had been reported that Steve never met his son, Elizabeth also took to social media after his death to say they had grown close in recent times and had spoken on his 18th birthday. 

Throwback: In year’s gone by Damian has paid tribute to the fatherly figures in his life on Father’s Day including his mother’s former partner Hugh Grant (pictured) 

Father figure: He has also paid tribute to his mother’s pal and pop legend Elton John

Steve, who received a $600million inheritance from his grandfather when he turned 18, had his will drawn up in 2001 – before he knew Kira had been born and while Elizabeth was pregnant.

Kira, his daughter with former tennis star Lisa Bonder, is said to be fighting for control of his estate that was valued at just $337,000, according to documents obtained exclusively by MailOnline. 

Although Steve notes Elizabeth was expecting a child, he declares in his will: ‘Whether or not such child is mine, it is my intention not to provide in this Will for such child (or any other child as to which I may be the father) in this Will or for the offspring of any such child or children, whether now living or hereafter born.’

The Shangri-La Entertainment founder later formed relationships with both Damian and Kira, even fighting for them to be included in their grandfather’s trust.

Prior to his death, he had an estimated net worth of $590 million, according to various reports. While his estate was valued at $337,000 – his properties were not included in that evaluation.