Mona Hammond

Mona Hammond has died at the age of 91, and many tributes have been paid to the "extremely talented" actress. As reported by The Mirror the Jamaican-British ...

She showed us dignity & dun in the face of what she must have faced. We went out for dinner one evening after filming - I think she got fed up of me talking so much about her brilliant character Aunty Susu’s on CH4’s Desmond." She went on to return in 2010 and reprise the role for two episodes. May she sleep peacefully." As a young one coming up I stared at her face & was thankful for her frown & sparkle, listened to every drop of musicality in her voice. She will be sorely missed.

She has been celebrated as a "trailblazer" and "phenomenal actress" in tributes posted on social media.

Mona also co-founded the Talawa Theatre Company, one of the country’s foremost Black theatre groups, and she was awarded an OBE in 2005 for her services to drama. Mona was also beloved for appearing in Channel 4 sitcom Desmond’s, appearing as Auntie Susu between 1990 and 1994, before reprising the role in a spin-off Porkpie from 1995 to 1996. The actor was best known for portraying Blossom Jackson in the BBC soap between 1994 and 1997, and for playing Auntie Susu in the sitcom Desmond’s and its spin-off Porkpie.

Tributes pour in for the trailblazer of stage and screen whose career spanned six decades and also set up the Talawa Theatre Company.

Big Respect to you RIP ” Thank-you xx” Former Eastenders actress Michelle Gayle wrote: “A trailblazer. ITV news presenter Charlene White tweeted: “Mona Hammond, a trailblazer in every way.

Jamaican-British actor, who played Blossom Jackson in BBC soap, hailed as a 'pioneer' and 'trailblazer'

One of her best-known roles was as Auntie Susu in the Channel 4 sitcom Desmond’s from 1990 to 1994. Graduating in 1964, Hammond began her career on stage and television. Hammond was made an OBE in the 2005 Queen’s birthday honours list for her services to drama. The company has produced more than 80 productions, from African classics to Oscar Wilde. Tributes were paid following the news of her death. In 2018, she was awarded the Women of the World lifetime achievement award for her theatre career and for championing Black British actors.

Mona was best known for playing Blossom Jackson in the BBC soap as well as Susu in the Channel 4 sitcom Desmond's in the early 1990s.

May god rest her." In 1986, she also had a minor role as Michelle Fowler's midwife, The Mirror reports. Moving tributes have been paid to EastEnders and Desmond's star Mona Hammond who has died aged 91.

The Jamaican-British actress, best known for playing Blossom Jackson in BBC soap EastEnders and Auntie Susu in sitcom Desmond's, was a star of stage and screen ...

“Mona created a no-nonsense grandmother in Blossom Jackson, who was adored by the audience and everyone who worked with her. Hammond was made an OBE in the 2005 Queen’s birthday honours list for her services to drama. Hammond was born Mavis Chin in Jamaica to a Jamaican mother and Chinese father, and in 1961 was awarded a scholarship to Rada. She graduated in 1964 having moved to the UK at the age of 28.

EastEnders has paid tribute to actress Mona Hammond who died aged 91 after appearing as Blossom Jackson on the soap. Mona also appeared in Doctor Who.

"Mona Hammond... Pioneer. Skilled. Funny. And kind to me as a young actor," said Paterson Joseph. "What a generation! She was awarded a RADA scholarship in 1961 at the very start of her acting career. 91 years of inspiration". Hammond, a star of both stage and screen, played Blossom Jackson on the BBC One soap from 1994 until 1997. EastEnders' statement said: "We are deeply saddened to hear that Mona Hammond has passed away. Alongside her successful soap career, Hammond was a regular on stage and a founding member of the Talawa Theatre Company, which strives to "champion Black excellence in theatre".

The Jamaican-British actress, best known for playing Blossom Jackson in BBC soap EastEnders and Auntie Susu in sitcom Desmond's, was a star of stage and screen ...

It added: “Mona created a no-nonsense grandmother in Blossom Jackson, who was adored by the audience and everyone who worked with her. Hammond was made an OBE in the 2005 Queen’s birthday honours list for her services to drama. Hammond was born Mavis Chin in Jamaica to a Jamaican mother and Chinese father, and in 1961 was awarded a scholarship to Rada. She graduated in 1964 having moved to the UK at the age of 28.

The chairman for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Marcus Ryder confirmed the news on Twitter this morning, posting: "It is with sadness that I wake up ...

She showed us dignity & dun in the face of what she must have faced. We went out for dinner one evening after filming - I think she got fed up of me talking so much about her brilliant character Aunty Susu’s on CH4’s Desmond." She went on to return in 2010 and reprise the role for two episodes. May she sleep peacefully." As a young one coming up I stared at her face & was thankful for her frown & sparkle, listened to every drop of musicality in her voice. She will be sorely missed.

Trailblazer for black actors in Britain best known for her roles in EastEnders and Desmond's.

Having had many one-off parts and appearing in Play for Today productions of In the Beautiful Caribbean (1972) and Victims of Apartheid (1978), she acted the proud mother of the black British detective featured in Wolcott, a groundbreaking 1981 ITV mini-series. Hammond first came to the attention of London theatre critics when she took the title role in The Black Girl in Search of God (Mermaid theatre, 1968), based on George Bernard Shaw’s book of short stories. Hammond’s character in Desmond’s, who had arrived on a visit from Jamaica, was portrayed as the “dream girl” of Desmond’s old friend Porkpie (Ram John Holder) and became his fiancee, but was eventually deported back to her home country. Keen on acting, she attended evening classes at the City Literary Institute, London, for two years and won a scholarship to Rada, graduating in 1964. Hammond said she was leaving EastEnders after three years through nervous exhaustion caused by the programme’s production schedule. Her EastEnders character moved in with her grandson, Alan, and his partner, Carol, at Dot Cotton’s former Albert Square house in 1994.

In 1986 she co-founded the Talawa Theatre Company which has led the way in widening opportunities for black actors and directors.

In Death in Paradise (2011) she played a Voodoo priestess who predicts her own murder. She was born as Mavis Chin on January 1 1931 in Jamaica to a Chinese father and Jamaican mother. I talked about the baby, and played down the handbag. But I stood at the back one night, and forgot I knew her. Yvonne Brewster, a co-founder of the Talawa company, recalled being asked by Peter Brook at a directors’ workshop how she would know when she had succeeded. Soap opera scripts do not always bring out the best in actors, but Mona Hammond never played her roles with anything less than total commitment.

The Jamaican-British actress, best known for playing Blossom Jackson in BBC soap EastEnders and Auntie Susu in sitcom Desmond's, was a star of stage and screen ...

It added: “Mona created a no-nonsense grandmother in Blossom Jackson, who was adored by the audience and everyone who worked with her. He added on Twitter: “Skilled. Funny. And kind to me as a young actor. Hammond was made an OBE in the 2005 Queen’s birthday honours list for her services to drama. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Bafta added that it was “saddened” to hear the news, describing her as a “trailblazing actor who played a range of memorable roles across British television” The company said on Twitter: “We are devastated to hear of the passing of Mona Hammond OBE. 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.”

Mona Hammond, who starred in U.K. soap opera 'EastEnders' and 'Desmond's,' has died at the age of 91.

Mona was in the very first Talawa production in 1986, a dramatization of ‘The Black Jacobins’ by CLR James – the story of Toussaint Louverture, who led the Haitian revolution. “Known and loved by many as Blossom in ‘Eastenders’ and Aunty SuSu in ‘Desmond’s,’ we knew Mona as the co-founder of Talawa Theatre Company – she was our National Treasure. As one of the founders of Talawa Theatre Company, Mona’s passion and vision have been fundamental to all we do to create Black theatre and make theatre more accessible for Black people in the U.K.” The theater company also published a tribute to Hammond on their website. 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. Our love and thoughts are with Mona’s family and friends.” Mona created a no-nonsense grandmother in Blossom Jackson who was adored by the audience and everyone who worked with her.

Mona Hammond has died at the age of 91, and many tributes have been paid to the "extremely talented" actress. As reported by The Mirror the Jamaican-British ...

She showed us dignity & dun in the face of what she must have faced. We went out for dinner one evening after filming - I think she got fed up of me talking so much about her brilliant character Aunty Susu’s on CH4’s Desmond." She went on to return in 2010 and reprise the role for two episodes. May she sleep peacefully." As a young one coming up I stared at her face & was thankful for her frown & sparkle, listened to every drop of musicality in her voice. She will be sorely missed.