Neighbours actress Joan Sydney has died at the age of 83, it has been reported.
The television veteran, who played Valda Sheergold in the Australian soap, passed away peacefully according to a friend and colleague (via TV Tonight).
She had a lengthy career on TV, stage and radio, with her Neighbours role initially being a semi-regular recurring one before being bumped up to a full-time cast member across 2007 and 2008.
Related: Neighbours could pave way for more streaming soaps as Freevee explains revival
In terms of theatre, she's appeared in My Fair Lady, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Importance of Being Ernest, Equus, Waiting for Godot, Oliver!, Hello Dolly and a stage version of Are You Being Served?.
But for Aussie fans, it's likely her role as Matron Sloane in over 450 episodes of A Country Practice between 1983 and 1990 that she is most remembered.
Her performance in the show even netted her a Logie award for Most Popular Actress in 1989.
Related: Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt talk Neighbours revival
The publication quotes her friend and colleague, Sally-Anne Upton, talking about a charity benefit that she put on.
"I asked Joan if she would appear as Matron Sloane and at first she was very reluctant," Upton said. "She thought it wouldn’t work as Wandin Valley had been a long time off our screen.
"And I said, 'Are you kidding me? Everyone will know who you are. And it will be the highlight of the show'.
"And sure enough, as I’m MC-ing the second half she appeared through the curtain in her white nurses uniform and 70s nurses cap, no words spoken, and brought the house down. Later in the green room she was still in shock of the response. 'Well, I never!'"
Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.
Read more Neighbours coverage on our dedicated homepage
