The Crown actress Haydn Gwynne dead at 66

British BAFTA-nominated actress Haydn Gwynne has passed away after a shock recent diagnosis forced her to pull out of her latest production.

Actress Haydn Gwynne - pictured here with Helen Mirren (left) - has died aged 66.

The Crown actress Hadyn Gwynne has died aged 66.

The BAFTA-nominated star, who played Lady Susan Hussey in the hit Netflix show, passed away on Friday, her agent confirmed.

“It is with great sadness we are sharing with you that, following her recent diagnosis with cancer, the star of stage and screen Haydn Gwynne died in hospital in the small hours of Friday 20 October, surrounded by her beloved sons, close family and friends,” the statement read, according to The Sun.

“We would like to thank the staff and teams at the Royal Marsden and Brompton Hospitals for their wonderful care over the last few weeks.”

Gwynne with her The Audience co-star, Dame Helen Mirren in 2013. Picture: Joanne Davidson/Shutterstock

She died on Friday aged 66. Picture: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Haydn was praised for her role as Alex Pates in 1990s UK show Drop the Dead Donkey.

She also appeared as Camilla in The Windsors alongside Harry Enfield.

The star earned a BAFTA and Tony Award nomination for her role in Billy Elliot the Musical on the West End.

Haydn played the titular character’s dance teacher and was due to return to the stage last month.

Sadly, the actress was forced to pull out after being diagnosed with cancer.

Haydn was born in Sussex in 1957 and attended the University of Nottingham where she studied sociology.

Gwynne (centre) as Supt. Susan Blake in Mersey Beat. Picture: Foxtel

The star later took a five-year lectureship in Italy at the University of Rome La Sapienza where she taught English as a foreign language.

Her first acting role was as feminist lecturer Dr Robyn Penrose in the BBC miniseries dramatisation of David Lodge’s Nice Work in 1989.

Haydn then went on to appear in the 1991 Children’s ITV science-fiction series Time Riders and Peak Practice.

She also starred in Merseybeat in 2001 and played Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Audience.

Away from TV, Haydn appeared in a string of theatre productions, including Hedda Gabler and City of Angels.

Haydn lived in London with her partner Jason Phipps and their two sons.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.