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Beloved British actress Dame Barbara Windsor died Thursday evening at the age of 83.
Her husband, Scott Mitchell, confirmed her death toPA News, telling the agency that her final weeks were “typical of how she lived her life” and “full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.”
“Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career,” he said, according toYahoo News.
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Windsor appeared in the comedy film seriesCarry OnandSparrows Can’t Sing— which earned her a BAFTA nomination — in addition to minor roles inChitty Chitty Bang BangandOn the Fiddle. Her most famous role, however, was in British soap operaEastEnders.
She played landlady Peggy Mitchell in the long-running series, starring alongside Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden. Her final appearance inEastEnderswas in 2016 — the same year she was named a dame for her service and charity donations.
“Dame Barbara Windsor — a great British actor and tireless charity campaigner who will be deeply missed,“Prince Charlesand his wifeCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall,wrotein a Friday statement.
“So sad about Barbara Windsor, so much more than a great pub landlady & Carry On star,“addedPrime MinisterBoris Johnson. “She campaigned for the lonely and the vulnerable — and cheered the world up with her own British brand of harmless sauciness & innocent scandal. Thoughts with Scott and all her family & friends.”
Actor Larry Lamb, who played Peggy’s husband Archie onEastEnders, toldBBC Radio 5that his former co-star was “an extraordinary woman.”
“Everybody [atEastEnders] looked up to her — which physically wasn’t the easiest thing to do, she was so tiny,” he said. “But she was an extraordinary, extraordinary woman and a great loss.”
“I’m extremely sad to hear that my friend ‘Dame’ Barbara Windsor has passed away,”wrotePatsy Palmer, who played Bianca Jackson. “I’m sitting here thinking of the 100s of memories we shared. Too many to comprehend. We were like family for a long time, ups down, ins and outs. but you will never meet a more professional actress than Babs.”
source: people.com
