She was adored worldwide for playing some of TV’s most memorable villains.
Whether it was the bitchy Sister Scott on The Young Doctors in the ’70s, the conniving Barbara Hamilton on Sons And Daughters or that 29-year stint as evil Morag Bellingham on Home And Away – actress Cornelia Frances gave it her all.
But on Monday, the screen icon’s son, Lawrence, revealed his mother had passed away after a battle with bladder cancer.
Taking to Instagram, Lawrence shared a very emotional picture of his resting mother.
‘A very personal photo of my mum during one of her resting moments, she is so peaceful, soft and serene. I truly love this woman,’ he wrote.
The actress was first diagnosed with the disease in 2016 and tragically it spread to her hip and spine.
‘Mum is such an inspiration. When she told me she had cancer, I broke down in tears, but Mum is so stoic. She is my rock,’ Lawrence told New Idea in an exclusive interview in April this year.
‘I feel so blessed to have her not only as a mum, but also as my best friend.’
Lawrence revealed that in spite of her cancer battle, the flame-haired TV favourite had celebrated her 77th birthday in her hospital bed.
‘Mum had the best day, surrounded by some of her closest friends,’ Lawrence told New Idea.
‘It was wonderful to see her smile and laugh.’
To ring in her birthday, close friends including TV star turned bestselling author Judy Nunn, her actor-author husband Bruce Venables, showbiz stalwarts Paula Duncan and Andrew McFarlane, along with TV hunk Axle Whitehead, raised a glass to toast their great friend.
Tragically, that birthday would be the TV legend’s last.
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