British Actress Marian Diamond Dies at 89

British actress Marian Diamond, best known for her roles in classic television series including Brookside and her distinctive voice work for the BBC, has died at the age of 89.

Diamond passed away on January 5 at University College Hospital in London, according to a tribute posted on social media by her close friend, fellow actress Miriam Margolyes. The two first met in 1968 at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and later collaborated on radio projects after Margolyes joined the BBC Drama Repertory Company in 1965. In her emotional message, Margolyes described Diamond as "one of the angels in our business, endlessly generous, interested in others and thrilled by their success. She was beautiful, gentle, full of fun, wise and perceptive."

Margolyes expressed profound grief, writing, "I feel utterly bereft; a unique spirit has been taken very suddenly away from us." She noted that Diamond had lived elegantly for 60 years in her parents' house on Mount Street, where she hosted sumptuous tea parties for friends. Margolyes also mentioned Diamond's late sister, casting director Gillian Diamond, and close friend actor Hugh Dickson, both of whom died in 2018. Gillian's sons survive her,...