British actress Una Stubbs, Sherlocks Mrs Hudson, dies at 84

British
actress Una Stubbs, who is known for her roles in hit television shows such as
Till Death Us Do Part, Sherlock and Worzel Gummidge, among others, has died at the
age of 84. After starting her career as a dancer, Stubbs earned fame with the
1963 film ‘Summer Holiday’ and went on to become a regular fixture on film, television
as well as theater over decades.

“Mum passed
away quietly today with her family around her, in Edinburgh. We ask for privacy
and understanding at this most difficult and sad of times,” her family said in
a statement.

Rebecca
Blond, her agent who represented her for more than 20 years, said she will “miss
her enormously”.

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“We are
desperately sad to have lost not only a wonderful actress, whose screen and
stage career, spanning over 50 years, was so extraordinarily varied, from Till
Death Us Do Part to Sherlock, as well as memorable performances in the West
End, at the Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Crucible and National Theatre,
but also a wickedly funny, elegant, stylish, graceful, gracious and kind and
constant friend,” she said in a statement.

Stubbs was
born in Hertfordshire in 1937 and after her breakthrough film ‘Summer Holiday’,
in which she starred alongside Sir Cliff Richard, she played Rita Rawling in
the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.

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She then starred
as Aunt Sally in ‘Worzel Gummidge’ in the late 1970s and as Miss Bat in ‘The Worst
Witch’ in the late 1990s. She was also team captain for a number of years on
the television game show ‘Give Us A Clue’ in the 1980s.

More recently, she was seen on the BBC show ‘Sherlock’, where she portrayed Mrs Hudson and starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. 

Stubbs also
appeared in EastEnders, The Catherine Tate Show, Fawlty Towers, Heartbeat,
Benidorm, We’d Quite Like To Apologise and Marple.

Apart from
her work in acting, Stubbs was also known as a painter and has had her work
displayed at the Royal Academy in London.

She was married
to actor Peter Gilmore from 1958 to 1969, with whom she adopted a son Jason. She
then married Nicky Henson in 1969, before splitting up in 1975. The couple had
two sons, Joe and Christian.