The well-known actor Haydn Gwynne passed away at the age of 66 following a battle with cancer. Renowned for her portrayal of the caustic assistant editor Alex Pates in Channel 4’s newsroom comedy “Drop the Dead Donkey,” Gwynne had a successful career in theatre and television.
Her performance as a dance instructor in “Billy Elliot the Musical” garnered her nominations for both the Tony and Olivier awards in London and New York.
For her roles in musical productions like “City of Angels,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” (based on Pedro Almodóvar’s film), and “The Threepenny Opera,” she was also nominated for three additional Olivier awards.
Haydn Gwynne’s agent revealed in a formal statement that she passed away in a hospital surrounded by her beloved sons, her immediate family, and close friends on Friday. The statement also conveyed appreciation for the outstanding care provided over the last few weeks by the medical staff at the Royal Marsden and Brompton hospitals.
Tributes poured in for Haydn Gwynne
Haydn Gwynne has received tributes from a wide range of people, including Jack Thorne, who collaborated with Gwynne on the play “When Winston Went to War With the Wireless” at the Donmar Warehouse in London this year. She was a gifted performer who gave her all to her work, and Thorne called her a wonderfully wonderful and remarkably kind person.
The writer, Jonathan Harvey, described her as a talented and adaptable professional in every facet of her field. After serving as a police officer, Helen King, the principal of St Anne’s College, Oxford, recalled Gwynne for her keen observation, diligence, and sense of humor while shadowing her for the TV show “Merseybeat.”
The National Theatre’s director, Rufus Norris, conveyed his deep sorrow upon learning of Haydn Gwynne’s passing. Before he had the honor of working with her on “The Threepenny Opera” at the National Theatre, he had long been an admirer of her work.
She was a complete pleasure to work with because of her remarkable combination of wit, audacity, elegance, and unwavering dedication to her craft, which he celebrated. A few years later, she made another remarkable comeback in “The Welkin.” The entire National Theatre team, who all cherished and held Gwynne in high regard, will be deeply saddened by her passing.
Remembering Haydn Gwynne’s legacy
Renowned for her exceptional interpretations of noble and elegant roles, Haydn Gwynne made a lasting impression as the hilarious “soap opera villainess” Camilla on Channel 4’s “The Windsors.” In the Netflix series “The Crown,” she also played Lady Susan Hussey, Queen Imelda Staunton’s lady-in-waiting.
Her ability to adapt was demonstrated when she played a cunning gallerist in the BBC series “Sherlock” and continued to have regular roles in programs such as “Peak Practise” and “Merseybeat.”
Haydn Gwynne was honored for her part as an English lecturer in the David Lodge miniseries “Nice Work,” which aired on television in 1989. But her performance as Alex Pates in “Drop the Dead Donkey” was what made her reputation really take off.
Her portrayal of Alex Pates, the second-in-command to the troubled GlobeLink News editor George Dent, earned her a nomination for a Bafta Award for best light entertainment performance. Before her character left GlobeLink, she portrayed this character in the first two seasons of the adored comedy series.
West Sussex native Haydn Gwynne got her start in amateur dramatic productions around her hometown. She participated in student theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe while pursuing a degree in sociology at the University of Nottingham. She was employed by the University of Rome as an English lecturer after receiving her degree. Interestingly, she never attended a drama school to receive official training.
She was given a huge break in 1984 when Sandy Wilson’s musical play “His Monkey Wife,” a Scarborough adaptation of John Collier’s novel, was directed by Alan Ayckbourn. Alongside Jason Phipps, Gwynne was a partner in raising their two sons.
