‘Trailblazing’ actress Cleo Sylvestre dies aged 79

“Trailblazing” histrion Cleo Sylvestre has died aged 79, her cause has confirmed.

Sylvestre, besides known arsenic Cleopatra Palmer, had been a diagnostic of film, stage, tv and euphony since the 1960s, and played Melanie Harper, Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter, successful ITV’s Crossroads.

Her movie roles person ranged from the 2014 movie Paddington and 1993’s The Punk, portion her TV appearances see The Bill, New Tricks, Till Death Do Us Part, Grange Hill, Doctor Who and Coronation Street.

A connection from Fulcrum Talent connected Friday said: “It is with heavy regret that I person to denote the bittersweet quality that Cleo Sylvestre MBE died this morning.

“Much loved and admired by her peers, she volition beryllium remembered arsenic a trailblazer and a existent friend. She volition beryllium sorely missed by truthful many.

“We inquire that you respect the privateness of her household astatine this hard time.”

Sylvestre besides sang arsenic Cleo with the Rolling Stones backing her connected a screen of To Know Him Is To Love Him successful 1964 and continued to beryllium a instrumentalist with her blues set Honey B Mama And Friends.

In 2023, she was astatine Buckingham Palace arsenic she was made an MBE for services to play and charity.

Her astir caller surface roles included ITV thriller Platform 7, and Channel 5’s revamp of All Creatures Great And Small.