Drop The Dead Donkey star Haydn Gwynne dies aged 66

Actress Haydn Gwynne has died aged 66 following a recent cancer diagnosis, her representatives have confirmed.

She was best known for her roles in comedy series Drop The Dead Donkey and as Queen Consort Camilla in royal satire sitcom The Windsors.

A statement from her agent said: “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.”

Gwynne had long wanted to be an actress but spent her early adult life in Rome teaching English.

Although she was worried about how her parents might react, at age 25 she returned home to pursue her dream.

Haydn Gwynne starred as Alex Pates in Drop The Dead Donkey

She first made her name in 1990 when she starred as icy Alex Pates in the comedy Drop The Dead Donkey, which also earned her a BAFTA TV nomination in 1992.

Her role as Dr Joanna Graham in Peak Practice also propelled her to fame.

The actress also had a successful career on stage and received two Olivier Award nods for her performance in West End productions of City Of Angels and Billy Elliot The Musical.

She secured two further nominations for her roles in The Threepenny Opera and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown.

Gwynne also featured in a number of royal series including playing Camilla in The Windsors from 2016 and later portraying former royal aide Lady Susan Hussey, who resigned from the royal household following a racism row, in the fifth series of The Crown.

Source: Press Association