Actress Sylvia Syms dies aged 89

She “died peacefully” at Denville Hall care home in London earlier today.

In a statement, Syms’s children Beatie and Ben Edney said:

“Our mother, Sylvia, died peacefully this morning. She has lived an amazing life, and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end. Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have taken of our mum over the past year.”

Syms was born in London on January 6 1934 and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).

The film It Happens Every Thursday, which she starred in alongside John Forsythe, ignited her career, followed by 1954’s My Teenage Daughter, in which she played Anna Neagle’s problem daughter.

Her best-remembered film roles were as Sister Diana in Ice Cold in Alex, set during the 1941 Western Desert campaign, and as Laura, the wife of a gay barrister in Victim, released in 1961.

My Good Woman, ATV

During 1972-1975, she starred as Sylvia Gibbons, a fanatically charitable individual, on the sitcom My Good Woman for ATV. Leslie Crowther portrayed Sylvia’s long-suffering husband, whose attempts to restrain her activities led him and Sylvia to a variety of difficult situations. The show ran for 5 series and 39 episodes.

In 1974, she was nominated for a Bafta for her role in The Tamarind Seed, which starred Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif.

Syms was also a regular on the small screen in the 1990s and 2000s with appearances in Peak Practice, EastEnders, Doctor Zhivago, At Home With The Braithwaites, and Heartbeat to name but a few.

In 2006, she played Britain’s Queen Mother opposite Helen Mirren in The Queen.

Her most recent role was in 2019 in the BBC period drama Gentleman Jack as Mrs Rawson.

New Tricks, BBC