Haydn Gwynne has died at the age of 66.
The actress was best known for her roles in The Windsors and Drop The Dead Donkey.
A statement from her agent read:
“It is with great sadness we are sharing with you that, following her recent diagnosis with cancer, the star of stage and screen Haydn Gwynne died in hospital in the small hours of Friday October 20, surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends.
“We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks.”
The role of Icy Alex Pates in Drop The Dead Donkey helped Gwynne to become a household name, and she was nominated for ‘Best Light Ent Performance’ at the 1992 BAFTA Television Awards.
Originally broadcast on Channel 4 between 1990 and 1998, the comedy was set in the offices of Globelink News, a fictional TV news organisation. The show itself won multiple awards, including a BAFTA for Best Comedy in 1994 and an International Emmy for Outstanding Popular Arts Programming in 1992.
Gwynne went on to star in a number of popular British dramas throughout the 1990s including Peak Practice and Merseybeat. She also had a successful career on stage with multiple Olivier Award nods and a win for her performance in Billy Elliot The Musical.
In the satirical series The Windsors, she played Princess Camilla turned Queen Consort Camilla between 2016 and 2023. She also played Lady Susan Hussey in The Crown, a royal aide who resigned after a racism row.
When she was a child, she had a desire to act. However, fearing that her parents wouldn’t approve, she first taught English in Rome as an adult before returning home at 25 to pursue her dream.
