EastEnders and Desmond’s star Mona Hammond dies aged 91 as tributes pour in for ‘trailblazer’ actress
- Actress Mona Hammond has died aged 91, with tributes pouring in for actress
- The Jamaican-British star was most known as Blossom Jackson in EastEnders
- She began the role in 1994, remaining there until 1997, returning in 2010
Actress Mona Hammond has died aged 91, as tributes pour in for ‘trailblazer’ actress.
The Jamaican-British actress was most known for her role as Blossom Jackson in BBC’s EastEnders. She also starred as Susu in Desmond’s during the early 1990s.
Marcus Ryder mourned her loss on Twitter: ‘It is with sadness that I wake up to the news Mona Hammond has died.
Actress Mona Hammond has died aged 91, as tributes pour in for ‘trailblazer’ actress
Mona Hammond was most known for her role as Blossom Jackson in BBC ‘s EastEnders
She has died aged 91, with tributes pouring in for the ‘trailblazer’ actress
The Duchess of Cornwall (left) with actress Mona Hammond during a reception at Clarence House in London in 2018
Loose Women presenter Charlene White described the actress as a ‘trailblazer in every way’ in a tribute
‘Among her numerous achievements she co-founded Talawa Theatre Company in 1985. She was also a graduate and received an honorary RADA Fellowship in 2019.’
Loose Women presenter Charlene White described the actress as a ‘trailblazer in every way’ in a tribute.
An EastEnders fan site tweeted this morning: ‘RIP Mona Hammond, who played Blossom Jackson in #EastEnders.
‘Really sad to hear of Mona Hammond passing. Blossom was a great character during the early years of #EastEnders and was a great family figure for the Jackson family in their early days. R.I.P.’
Her Albert Square character, Blossom Jackson, was a key figure in the Jackson family.
She began the role in 1994, remaining there until 1997. She then returned in 2010 for two episodes featuring Blossom.
It was her second role in the BBC soap, having first taken the part of Michelle Fowler’s midwife in 1986.
Mona began her career in acting on the stage, before moving to television programmes
Peter Coe, theatre director, talking with Mona Hammond, Oscar James and Merdel Jordine, as part of the all-black cast appearing in his production of Macbeth
Mona began her career in acting on the stage, appearing in Macbeth, Josephine House, and spending two years with the Royal National Theatre’s productions, including Fuente Ovejuna, Peer Gynt and The Crucible.
She then worked on television programmes The Sweeney, Juliet Bravo, and Coronation Street, before moving to EastEnders. She also starred in Holby City, as well as Death in Paradise, Doctor Who, The Bill and Last of the Mohicans among others.
In her earlier career, she played Susu in Desmond’s cast, continuing the role in the show’s spin-off, Porkpie.
The late star could also be heard on the airwaves, playing Mabel Thompson on BBC’s The Archers.
In the 1980s, she co-founded theatre company Talwa Theatre, as a response to the lack of creative opportunities for Black actors.
It has since produced more than 80 productions, from African classics to Oscar Wilde.
Mona in Holby City, as one of her many roles in popular television soaps
Born in Tweeside, Clarendon Jamaica, Mona moved to England in 1959 on a Jamaican Scholarship, where she worked for Norman and Dawbarn Architects.
There, she went to evening classes at the City Literary Institute for two years and was awarded a Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
She was celebrated with an OBE in 2005 for her services to drama.
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