EastEnders' Lou Beale actress Anna Wing dies

Anna Wing, who played 'EastEnders' Lou Beale, has died aged 98.

Her agent announced that the star, who appeared in the BBC soap for three years, died on Sunday.

Wing played the matriach of the Beale family from 1985 to 1988 and is best-remembered by fans for her on-screen partnership with Gretchen Franklin, who played Ethel Skinner.

Adam Woodyatt, who still plays her grandson Ian Beale in the show, described Wing as "a wonderful lady".

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He said: "I remember one episode in particular - we had a seven-page scene for the cliffhanger, Ian pouring his heart out to his gran. It was the first time I had to cry on screen and I was terrified I wouldn't be able to do it. Anna was so helpful, happy to rehearse it over and over again and put me completely at ease. Sure enough the tears flowed from nowhere.

"I have so many fond memories of her, my thoughts are with her family and friends."

June Brown, who plays Dot Cotton, said it was a "pleasure" to work with Wing.

She said: "She was a very generous woman in many ways and an excellent actress who made a script her own, lifting the character off the page and made it quite different from what you'd have expected.

"Anna always thought well of everyone and she loved and enjoyed her children and grandchildren. I was very fond of her indeed and will remember Anna with great affection always."

Wing received the MBE in 2009 in recognition of a career that spanned more than six decades of television, film, radio and theatre.

Speaking at the time, she said: "I wanted to be an actress when I was a little girl and everybody said no, but I did it. I stuck it out and I've done it for 70 years and I'm still working.''

She appeared in The Bill aged 92 playing a feisty pensioner caught up in a drug deal.

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