The actress Jacqueline Pearce has died

Today is a day of sad news. Following on from the awful news that the actress Carole Shelley has passed away, it has now been announced that actress Jacqueline Pearce has left us at the age of 74.

Jacqueline found lasting fame in the role of Servalan in the iconic, classic British science fiction television series, Blake's 7, which was made between 1978 and 1981. Over a decade earlier, Jacqueline made her sole appearance in the Carry Ons. In 1966 she played the small role as one of the ladies less than impressed with Charles Hawtrey's flirtations in Don't Lose Your Head.

Jacqueline was born in Surrey in 1943. She trained to be an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and at Lee Strasberg's Actor's Studio in the United States. Her film career included two Hammer Horrors, Sky West and Crooked (1965), White Mischief (1987) and How To Get Ahead in Advertising (1989). On the small screen, Jacqueline appeared in countless productions away from Blake's 7. They included roles in Danger Man, Callan, The Avengers and Special Branch.

A real favourite with fans of cult television, Jacqueline had moved to South Africa for several years. She returned to the UK in 2015, having published her memoirs in 2012. According to The Guardian Jacqueline was diagnosed with lung cancer only weeks ago and upon leaving hospital chose to be cared for at her Lancashire home.

I'm sure there will be many tributes to Jacqueline Pearce in the days to come. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

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