Mona Hammond, ‘EastEnders’ Star, Dies at 91

variety.com:

K.J. Yossman Mona Hammond, a former “EastEnders” star and West End trailblazer, has died. She was 91.No cause of death has been given.Hammond was best known for playing “EastEnders” matriarch Blossom on the long-running British soap opera as well as co-founding the Black British theater company Talawa alongside Yvonne Brewster, Carmen Munroe and Inigo Espejel in 1986.The actor was of Chinese and Jamaican heritage, according to the Guardian, changing her name from Mavis Chin to Mona Hammond to avoid typecasting.

Hammond was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain in 1959, working in an office while attending evening acting classes. Before long, she had won a scholarship to leading British acting college RADA.

She graduated in 1964 and was soon gracing the boards in theaters across the country. She also appeared in 70 roles on screen, including in comedies “The Crouches” and “Us Girls,” as well as playing Aunty Susu in sitcom “Desmond’s,” which ran from 1989 to 1994, and soaps such as “Coronation Street,” “Holby City” and “Doctors.” In 2005 she appeared in the film “Kinky Boots” alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton and Sarah-Jane Potts.In 2006 she played Rita-Anne in “Doctor Who,” alongside David Tennant and Billie Piper, and two years later had a role in Roland Emmerich’s feature “10,000 BC.”Her last on-screen role was in 2016, in a short called “Bucky” opposite Frances Barber.News of Hammond’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes, including from RADA, who tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mona Hammond, trailblazer, RADA Graduate and honorary fellow” while the “EastEnders” Twitter account also paid tribute, posting: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Mona Hammond has passed away.