Busy British actress Cleo Sylvestre, 79, died on Sept. 20. Sylvestre had an impressive career onstage, both on the West End and in the provinces (Wise Child, The National Health, Les Fourberies de Scapin, Phaedre, Medea, and a one-woman show, The Marvellous Adventure of Mary Seacole). Her film credits include Till Death Us Do Part, The Smashing Bird I Used to Know, the camp classic Trog, Sammy and Rosie Get Laid, and Paddington; on TV, she had recurring roles on Crossroads, Grange Hill, Happy Families, and the current reboot of All Creatures Great and Small. Sylvestre reminisced, “I went to Camden School for Girls. Before leaving, we all met with the Head, Miss Burchell, to discuss our careers. When I told her I wanted to be an actress she replied, ‘Cleopatra, there are no parts for coloured actresses in Britain. I see you as a Head Teacher.’ In those days she was right, but to me, it was like a red rag to a bull and made me even more determined to act.”
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