Sylvia Syms has died at the age of 89.
The actress rose to fame in the 1950s when she starred alongside the late Sir John Mills in the war film “Alex’s Ice” and later in her career with Lady Helen Mirren in 2006 Her children, Beatie and Ben Edney, confirmed on Friday (January 27, 2023) that she had died “peacefully” that morning.
They said in a statement: “Our mother Sylvia passed away peacefully this morning. She lived a wonderful life and gave us joy and laughter until the very end. Just yesterday, together we remembered all of our adventure. She will be greatly missed.”
Sylvia – who was married to Ellen Edney from 1956 until 1989 – lived at Danwell Hall, a nursing home for entertainers in London at the time of her death, and her children continue to thank the family for their care they have been providing for their mother until her death.
The statement continued: “We also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Danville Hall for the truly outstanding care they have given our mom over the past year.”
Sylvia started her career as an understudy at the West End Theatre, before starring as the rebellious Jane Carr in the 1956 TV series My Teenage Daughter Neagle), her first major film role
She then starred opposite Dirk Bogarde in the 1961 film The Victim, playing the wife of a gay barrister
Sylvia was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in the 1974 drama The Tamarind Seed with Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif Sharif) and later in life had roles in the BBC soap EastEnders and the ITV series With the Braithwaites, before giving her final performance in an episode of Gentleman Jack; 2019 year.
Away from the spotlight, Sylvia sat on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Charity Star Foundation alongside the late wartime singer Vera Lynn, and in 1975 chaired the jury at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival.
