It’s unfortunate news for the fans of Cornelia Frances as she lost her battle with cancer and left the world while her age was 77.
Australian veteran actress revealed that she was fighting bladder cancer which spread to her hip in 2018. The swelling was so severe that broke two ribs. At that time, she said,
“I’m really feeling ok. The pain comes and goes, but you expect that.” “It’s par for the course. We’re going to fight it. By God I am.”
Even though she was battling with it; for the show’s 30th anniversary, Frances was hopeful of reprising her role in “Home and Away” as Morag.
In a social media post, her son, Mr. Eastland narrated his mother’s last hours as “peaceful, soft and serene.” He posted on his Instagram account writing, “I truly love this woman.”
Around January, she told The Daily Telegraph,
“I swear I have had a hex placed on me for the past 12 months,”
she added;
“I discovered I had bladder cancer. This then spread to my hip bone which fractured, and then I almost died from loss of blood due to an ulcer in my throat. Despite all this, I am still here, as the old song goes.”
Frances underwent chemo and radiation treatment. However, cancer spread in her spine. And she spent her final months in palliative care.
Beloved by Australian television audiences for decades, Frances received tributes from many. Some of them are:
Vale Cornelia Frances. The Australian TV legend was perhaps best known for her roles as Morag on HOME & AWAY, Barbara on SONS & DAUGHTERS and as the host of THE WEAKEST LINK. Our thoughts are with Cornelia's friends and family. She will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/uhsyr7cqo7
— AACTA (@AACTA) May 29, 2018
I met Cornelia Frances when I was 11. I was pretty terrified but she could not have been sweeter and I have always remembered that. Sad day.
— Joel Creasey (@joelcreasey) May 29, 2018
The actress was famous for her roles as Sister Scott in ‘The Young Doctors’, and as Morag Bellingham in ‘Home and Away.’
Who is Cornelia Frances?
Australian actress Cornelia Frances was one of the prominent faces on Television. So, let’s take a look back at Frances’s personal life.
The beloved actress married her husband, Michael Eastland in the year 1969 but the pair had a divorce. Frances and her ex-husband had one son named Lawrence and a granddaughter Tipani, 17 years old.
The actress was always close to her adult son and frequently appeared on his Instagram posts. Craig Bennett, show business reporter told Women’s Day,
“Lawrence is truly devastated by the passing of his mum, they were the best of friends,”
Moreover, Frances celebrated her 77th birthday on a hospital bed, surrounded by her friends and family.
Cornelia Frances Wiki Facts:
English-born stage, television and film actress, Cornelia Frances Zulver (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018) was professionally famous as Cornelia Frances. She died at the age of 77.
She was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, and received education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Frances started working as an extra and bit-part player in British-made feature films.
Later on, she emigrated to Australia in the 1970s, and it was that time when her career took off. Frances gained popularity after appearing in Nine’s ‘The Young Doctors’ as Sister Grace Scott.
Besides, on off-screen, Frances devoted a lot of time to orangutan conservation with The Orangutan Project. She was the first Ambassador to raise in an effort for the awareness regarding critically endangered orangutans.
