Cornelia Frances, actress and Home and Away star, dies of cancer aged 77
Updated
Actress Cornelia Frances, known for her starring roles on Home and Away and The Weakest Link, has died after a battle with cancer.
Her son Lawrence Eastland told the ABC she died in Sydney yesterday, aged 77.
In an social media post, Mr Eastland described his mother's final hours as "peaceful, soft and serene".
"I truly love this woman," he posted on Instagram.
In February, Frances told Channel 9 she was "feeling OK".
"The pain comes and goes but you expect that," she said.
"It's par for the course. We're going to fight it. By God I am."
Frances was born in Liverpool, England, and moved to Australia in 1970 where her career took off.
In 1970, she starred as Georgina Clausen in two episodes of Dynasty, before becoming a household name playing nurse Grace Scott in The Young Doctors from 1976 to 1979.
In the 1980s, she acted in the drama series Prisoner: Cell Block H, where she played Carmel Saunders.
From 1982 to 1986, she played Barbara Hamilton in the Logie-award-winning soap opera Sons and Daughters.
In a statement, Channel 7 said: "Cornelia Frances was a unique person. Her on screen presence inspired a generation of actors."
"This gift was coupled with an ability to bring a sense of dignity and presence into each room she entered. Her energy and character will be missed."
The six-time Logie nominee first appeared on Home and Away in 1988 and had various stints on the program playing the character Morag Bellingham until last year, in a role spanning 29 years.
Her harsh hosting roll on gameshow The Weakest Link also gave her notoriety in the early 2000s, while her role as nurse Grace Scott on The Young Doctors made her a household name.
The actress has been honoured by former colleagues and fans across social media.
Actress Debra Lawrance, who worked alongside Frances on Home and Away, posted on social media saying: "Vale dear Cornie, we loved working with you - larger than life and such a generous heart. The end of a very fine career".
"I remember being intimidated when I was going to shoot my first scene with her. As she played such a strong intimidating woman and I had no idea what to expect," said former Home and Away actor David Jones-Roberts on social media.
"Instead she greeted me with a big smile, a big hug and told me stories about working with my dad on Sons and Daughters. Such a lovely woman. You'll be missed RIP."
Fellow Home and Away actor Lincoln Younes paid his respects on social media, writing: "Vale #CorneliaFrances. You were always ahead of the game. Will miss your witty banter on-set X".
Topics: arts-and-entertainment, death, actor, sydney-2000, nsw
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