Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Stalwart Australian creative figure Leila Hayes has died, aged 85.
The teacher, actor, writer and radio host succumb to health issues in Sydney on Sunday.
“To all my Mum’s beautiful fans, peers and students – thank you for your condolences, shared memories and support. It means the world to me and my family at this difficult time,” her daughter Melissa said in a statement.
“I am sure she would feel incredibly humbled by the overwhelmingly loving support.”
A spokesperson for the Leila Hayes Drama Studio announced her death and said Hayes “leaves behind a rich legacy spanning television, radio, theatre, and education”.
Entertainment industry agent Matt Batten said Hayes made indelible impressions.
“She touched countless lives through her performances and contributions to the arts, leaving behind an unforgettable mark on the Australian entertainment industry,” Mr Batten said.
“In addition to her award-winning acting career, Leila was a cherished mentor and community figure, founding the Leila Hayes Drama Studio.”
Hayes started life in regional Victoria and rose to prominence in Australian entertainment singing on variety shows and national telethons.
Her most iconic fictional role was playing Melbourne mother Beryl Palmer in Logie Award-winning drama Sons and Daughters; her 950 appearances as Beryl Palmer – the show ran for five years – garnered a prestigious individual honour, the Penguin award.
The actor had roles in major Australian productions, such as Cop Shop, Twenty Good Years, and Prisoner.
Hayes toured Belgium in 1988, singing with her daughter. Following that tour, she began hosting New Day Australia with Leila Hayes on Radio 2UE. From there, the Leila Hayes Drama Studio was founded in Melbourne and then taken to Sydney.
Drama programs for seniors and young people in Sydney earnt Hayes a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow award and a Premier Award for Service to the Community.
According to the statement posted by the drama studio spokesperson, in her later years Hayes found joy out of the public eye, spending time with her grandchildren Lucian and Liam. She continued writing and published a children’s book.
“Yesterday’s message was not easy to share and done only out of the great respect she had for all those who have followed, worked with or studied with her over the years,” Hayes’ daughter Melissa said.
Hayes’ death is being reported in British news outlets, as numerous shows she acted in generated devoted followings in the UK.
