Haydn Gwynne, the highly regarded actress, has died aged 66 after a battle with cancer.
Her representative released a statement confirming her peaceful passing, saying she was surrounded by her beloved sons, close family members, and friends at the time of her death.
The statement also thanked paramedics and staff at the Royal Marsden and Brompton hospitals for their excellent care during the last few weeks of her life.
Gwynn’s illustrious career spanned both theater and television. She is best known for her role as acerbic assistant editor Alex Pates in the Channel 4 news satire “Drop the Dead Donkey”. With her impeccable performance in this role, she won the hearts of the audience and critics alike.
In the theater world, Gwynne won critical acclaim for her portrayal of a dance instructor in the musical Billy Elliot, a role she played in both London and New York. Her outstanding performance earned her Olivier Award and Tony Award nominations.
This was just the beginning of her successful theater career, as she received three more Olivier Award nominations for her roles in musical productions such as “City of Angels”, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” (based on Pedro Almodóvar’s film) and “The Threepenny Opera”.
Jack Thorne, whose play When Winston Went to War With the Wireless played Gwynne at the Donmar Warehouse in London this year, was one of many to pay tribute to Gwynne. “Haydn was the kindest, kindest soul and a great artist,” Thorne noted. She offered everything she had to everyone. Author Jonathan Harvey described her as “a gifted and versatile all-rounder”.
Shortly before its scheduled opening in September 2023, Gwynne withdrew from the West End revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. She previously starred in a one-off revue production honoring Sondheim’s musical theater career. “Haydn gave an unforgettable performance of Ladies Who Lunch during the Old Friends gala premiere in May 2022 and has been an integral part of this very tight-knit company ever since,” producer Cameron Mackintosh said at the time Gwynne stepped down.
Margaret Thatcher in Peter Morgan’s 2013 play The Audience starring Helen Mirren as the Queen, gilded matriarch Lady Wishfort in the restoration comedy The Way of the World (at the Donmar in 2018), and a stern judge in The Great British Bake Off The Musical in 2023, it was among Gwynne’s well-known West End stage roles. Her Shakespearean performances include Volumnia in Coriolanus for the RSC in 2017 and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III (opposite Kevin Spacey at London’s Old Vic in 2011).
Considered remarkably regal and regal, Gwynne portrayed Lady Susan Hussey, lady-in-waiting to Queen Imelda Staunton, in Netflix’s The Crown and played “soap opera villain” Camilla in the Channel 4 comedy The Windsors. She has also made recurring appearances in Peak Practice and Merseybeat and played a scheming gallery owner in the BBC series Sherlock.
While “Drop the Dead Donkey” cemented Gwynne’s fame, she had already garnered acclaim for her performance as an English teacher in the 1989 TV miniseries “Nice Job,” which was based on the novel by David Lodge. Her outstanding work in the role earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Performance in Light Entertainment. Her character, Alex Pates, served as deputy managing editor at the comically dysfunctional GlobeLink News. She continued to portray the character during the first two seasons of the hit comedy before her departure.
Gwynne’s path to acting was unique. Raised in West Suss*x, she first worked in community theater productions before studying sociology at the University of Nottingham. After graduating, she taught English at the University of Rome. Although she did not attend formal drama school, her big break came in 1984 when Alan Ayckbourn cast her in Sandy Wilson’s musical His Monkey Wife. The play, based on John Collier’s novel, was staged in Scarborough and marked a major turning point in her career.
On a personal note, Haydn Gwynne shared her life with her partner Jason Phipps with whom she had two sons.
Haydn Gwynne’s legacy in the world of entertainment will continue to shine brightly and her work will be celebrated for generations to come. Her remarkable talent, versatility, and dedication to her craft have left an indelible mark on the theater and television industry.
Looking back at the roles that made her a household name and the characters she brought to life with such finesse, it’s clear that her work will remain a constant source of inspiration for aspiring actors and actresses. Gwynn’s ability to seamlessly transition between genres and captivate audiences with her performances is a testament to her exceptional acting skills.
While her passing is undoubtedly a loss to the entertainment world, her work will continue to be admired by fans and newcomers discovering her talent.
Haydn Gwynne’s contribution to the arts will be a lasting reminder of her incredible legacy and her performances will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of working alongside this extraordinary actress. May she rest in peace knowing her impact on the world of entertainment is immeasurable and her memory will live on through the roles she portrayed with such brilliance and grace.