EastEnders actress Mona Hammond has died aged 91. She was best known for her role as Blossom Jackson in the long-running BBC soap and also played Susu in the Channel 4 sitcom Desmond's during the early 1990s.
She arrived on the Albert Square set in 1994 for her role as Blossom and stayed until 1997, although she did return in 2010 for two episodes. In 1986, she had also a minor role as Michelle Fowler's midwife in 1986, MirrorOnline reports.
Other TV work included roles in The Crouches and on cop dramas The Sweeney and Juliet Bravo. She also had a small role in EastEnders' rival soap Coronation Street and played Mabel Thompson on BBC radio soap The Archers.
Mona first began her acting career on the stage. She spent two years at the Royal National Theatre in productions including Fuente Ovejuna and Peer Gynt directed by Declan Donnellan, and The Crucible.
Tributes have started to pour in for the Jamaican-British star, with Loose Woman presenter Charlene White saying: "Mona Hammond, a trailblazer in every way. Thank-you."
Red Dwarf and Death in Paradise star Danny John-Jules wrote: "Yesterday we lost a #WindrushLegend #MonaHammond All praise to Ladies of the #VisitMona Group (Led by #SuzetteLlewellyn) Who tirelessly made sure that Mona was well looked after from the moment she went into care, her 'Final Curtain'. RIP"
Actress Kathy Burke wrote: "I’m so lucky to have seen Mona in loads of theatre productions in the 80’s/early 90’s. Always a massive favourite with audiences, she could blow the roof off with her genius comic timing. RIP Magnificent Mighty Mona."
Actress and author Meera Syal added: "I was lucky enough to share a stage with her in a production of Blood Wedding-phenomenal actress and human being. Rest In Power."
Fan Marverine Cole wrote: "Oh gosh. How very sad. She graced our screens for years, bringing immense joy. May god rest her." Bonnie wrote: "Sad times about Mona Hammond, I always remember her from Desmond’s but she was always a familiar face on tv (and what a great face)."
More tributes as we get them
