The utterly fabulous Emma Chambers – who starred as the dopey Alice Tinker in Vicar of Dibley, as well as the scene-stealing Honey Thacker in Notting Hill – passed away over the weekend at the age of 53, reportedly of “natural causes”.
While her cause of death has not officially been released, an interview with BBC executive producer Jon Plowman (who produced Vicar of Dibley) suggests it may have been a heart attack.
“It’s no age to have a heart attack, as I understand it,” he told Radio 4. “Emma was a gifted comic actress who made any part she played look easy. She was adored by the cast and crew.”
She battled with chronic allergies most of her life, dealing with asthma attacks, steroid injections and multiple trips tot he hospital. In 2002, she told The Telegraph how her acting career once came to a grinding halt because of a cat.
She was in her dressing room at the former Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) when she spotted the cat and “nearly died”.
I had to dash up to wardrobe, I had to leave. I was itching, wheezy. My voice was husky the next day – from being in here for a few minutes – and I looked horrendous,” she said.
“So the poor cat had to go – it was either the actress or the cat. What a diva I am!”
Her former co-stars and colleagues remembered her as a brilliant actress and a shining
I was regularly humped like this by the unique & beautiful spark that was Emma Chambers. I never minded. I loved her. A lot . pic.twitter.com/imzkoyKja9
— Dawn French 💙🔴🏳️🌈🇺🇦 (@Dawn_French) February 24, 2018
Emma Chambers was a hilarious and very warm person and of course a brilliant actress. Very sad news.
— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) February 24, 2018
Just heard the terrible news about lovely Emma Chambers. We had many laughs together and as it says in the song, I always thought I’d see her again. She created one of the best TV characters ever and I was proud to have worked with her. Xxxx
— James Fleet 💙 (@James_Fleet) February 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/FredrikSewell/status/967476529801281536
So sad to hear about lovely Emma Chambers. I loved working with her. Sweet of nature, strong of talent and so very funny. #EmmaChambers
— Robert Daws (@RobertDaws) February 24, 2018
The BBC is planning to air the popular 1998 Vicar of Dibley episode where Alice marries Hugo Horton (James Fleet) – complete with Tellytubby bridesmaids – in her honour.
