Michelle Collins has announced the tragic death of her mother Mary, who died on April 30 after a battle with cancer.
The former EastEnders star, 59, shared a photo of herself with her lookalike mum as well as a tribute fit for a queen.
She wrote: “My beautiful Mummy passed away on Friday 30th April . We are all devastated.
“She leaves behind her partner Sid , daughters Vicky and myself, three grandchildren Charlotte, Jack and Maia and her nephews and nieces whom she loved very much and her little dog Nano from @alldogsmatter.
“She was the strongest, kindest woman I knew. Fierce, protective, passionate, clever, funny, articulate.
“She gave Vicky and I our drive and hunger for life.”
Michelle explained that her mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer “a couple of years ago” but she received treatment which prolonged her life.
She thanked the Oncology department at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust for “always being so amazing in caring for” her mother, as well as The Whittington Hospital for the care at the end of her life.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Michelle finished by writing: “You will always be with us mummy. I love you.”
And she joked: “I don’t know how the charity shops in East Finchley will manage without you!”
Michelle has been a regular on the soap scene in the UK, first rising to fame as Cindy Beale in EastEnders for 10 years between 1988 and 1998.
Cindy was the unfaithful wife of EastEnders legend Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt.
(Image: TV Grab)
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After more than 10 years away from the soaps, Michelle moved on to Coronation Street as Stella Price, the landlady of the Rovers Return.
But after just two years, in 2013, it was announced that she had decided to leave the ITV soap.
She would go on to claim that she left because she was “unhappy” about how little screen time she and her character Stella got.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
