Michelle Collins has praised Dame Barbara Windsor as a "working-class hero".
Dame Barbara Windsor
Following 83-year-old Barbara's death this week after a long battle with Alzheimer's, her 'EastEnders' co-star Michelle said she "leaves a role that no one else can replace".
Michelle told The Guardian: "Barbara was, for me, a working-class hero, who came from humble beginnings like myself, and who was such an inspirational figure, to women in particular. She leaves a hole that no one else can replace. Gladly, there are so many performances we can revisit, including a lovely biopic that Tony Jordan made – that Barbara herself appears in – to remember how wonderful and unique she was."
She also praised Barbara and her husband Scott Mitchell for going public about the late star's Alzheimer's disease, in a bid to raise awareness and money.
She said: "It was so brave of Barbara and her husband, Scott, to come out and tell everybody that she was ill, and that she had Alzheimer’s. She raised a lot of awareness and a lot of funds but it must have been so difficult. It’s the most terrible disease, and for an actor to admit it is so tough – acting is all about remembering our lines and performing. If that’s taken away from us, our livelihood is gone."
Following Barbara's death, a message on the official 'EastEnders' Twitter page read: "We are all deeply saddened that we’ve lost our Dame. Barbara created an icon in Peggy Mitchell, our formidable Landlady. To all of us at EastEnders, she was our dearest friend, truly loved and adored by everyone. Our thoughts go out to Scott and Barbara’s family."
Tagged in Michelle Collins