Former EastEnders actress Mona Hammond has passed away aged 91.
The trailblazing star played Blossom on the BBC’s long-running soap between 1994 and 1997 and then again in 2010 but is best know for her pioneering work co-founding the Talawa Theatre Company.
In that capacity, she was able to nurture hundreds of Black actors and directors, with the company’s focus being to reinterpret classic plays with actors from the Black British, Caribbean and African diaspora in the UK.
Its first production was a reworking of Clr James’ The Black Jacobins with an all-Black cast.
“We are devastated to hear of the passing of Mona Hammond OBE,” the company tweeted yesterday. “As one of the founders of Talawa, a trailblazer and champion of Black British theatre, Mona’s passion and vision will remain fundamental to all we do, and her legacy will forever burn bright.”
Hammond’s TV acting roles included parts on Coronation Street,...
The trailblazing star played Blossom on the BBC’s long-running soap between 1994 and 1997 and then again in 2010 but is best know for her pioneering work co-founding the Talawa Theatre Company.
In that capacity, she was able to nurture hundreds of Black actors and directors, with the company’s focus being to reinterpret classic plays with actors from the Black British, Caribbean and African diaspora in the UK.
Its first production was a reworking of Clr James’ The Black Jacobins with an all-Black cast.
“We are devastated to hear of the passing of Mona Hammond OBE,” the company tweeted yesterday. “As one of the founders of Talawa, a trailblazer and champion of Black British theatre, Mona’s passion and vision will remain fundamental to all we do, and her legacy will forever burn bright.”
Hammond’s TV acting roles included parts on Coronation Street,...
- 7/6/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
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...
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...
- 7/6/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
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