HAYDN Gwynne rose to fame through her TV and film roles.
The actress had a successful acting career which spanned decades, but sadly passed away in October 2023 aged 66.
Who was Haydn Gwynne?
Haydn Gwynne was best known for her acting career – starring in a multitude of TV shows and films such as Drop The Dead Donkey.
She was born in West Sussex on October 5, 1957, and became an actress in her mid-twenties.
She was nominated in 1992 for a Bafta TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance for her role in Drop the Dead Donkey.
The star was also a four-time Olivier Award nominee.
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When did Haydn Gwynne pass away?
It was announced on Friday, October 20, 2023, that Haydn had passed away at the age of 66.
Her agent announced in a statement: “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 20 October, 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.”
Was Haydn Gwynne married and does she have any children?
Yes, Haydn was married and she did have children.
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She was married to her husband Jason Phipps who tends to stay out of the limelight and works as a psychotherapist.
The pair have two children together – Orlando, born in 1997 and Cain, born in 2000 as Harrison before legally changing his name at 17.
What movies and TV shows has Haydn Gwynne starred in?
Haydn took on many roles throughout her acting career, but one of her most well-known was her part of Alex Pates in Drop The Dead Donkey in 1990.
Her first television role was when she played Dr Robyn Penrose in the BBC television mini-series Nice Work in 1989.
She later became a regular in Peak Practice in 1999 as Dr Joanna Graham, before playing Superintendent Susan Blake in Merseybeat.
Haydn played Susan Hussey in the fifth series of The Crown in 2022 and Queen Camilla in comedy The Windsors.
in 2023, she starred as Pam Lee, a version of the real life judge Prue Leith, in The Great British Bake Off Musical.
Her other theatre work includes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Richard III, and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown.
What does the phrase Drop The Dead Donkey mean?
Drop The Dead Donkey means, in journalism, to get rid of a news item with little significance.
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A Dead Donkey may be a news item of no real importance which has been placed at the end of a news bulletin or in a newspaper as filler.
It can usually be replaced if a bigger or more important story emerges.
