British actress Jacqueline Pearce, who rose to fame as Supreme Commander Servalan in BBC sci-fi drama Blake’s 7, has died at the age of 74 shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
The Press Association has reported that her friend John Ainsworth confirmed that she had passed away on Monday at her home in Lancashire.
Awww no ! Jacqueline Pearce has passed away. As the glorious Servelan in Blake’s 7 she was magnificent !one of my hero’s xxxx pic.twitter.com/B49RNojNNH
— Bunny Galore (@BunnyGalore) September 3, 2018
Ainsworth, who had been her friend for 25 years and was with her at the time of her death, said, "She was outrageous, she was very honest and very straightforward, which didn't always go down very well, but you knew where you were with her.
"She liked a glass of champagne and liked everyone to have a good time with her, and of course she was a brilliant actress and everyone who worked with her remembered her very fondly."
He added Pearce had been diagnosed "a couple of weeks ago" and chose to be cared for at home after leaving hospital.
Her popularity in Blake's 7 as the villainous Servalan saw her role expanded from a single episode to a regular part over four series between 1978 and 1981.
Pearce was also known for her guest role as Chessene in The Two Doctors episodes of Doctor Who in 1985 - opposite Colin Baker's Time Lord.
She trained at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts in London alongside Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, and also appeared in episodes of Danger Man and The Avengers.
She also acted in children's dramas Moondial and Dark Season, which were written by Russell T Davies.
In a statement, Davies said: "It was a joy, working with Jacqueline on the first drama I ever wrote, Dark Season.
"She was glorious, vivid, passionate, filthy and the most wonderful company. And underneath the style and the laughter, a truly fine actor."
Her film roles included White Mischief with John Hurt, How To Get Ahead In Advertising with Richard E Grant and Princess Caraboo with Kevin Kline.
After relocating to South Africa for several years, initially to care for orphaned monkeys, Pearce returned to the UK in 2015.
Her autobiography, From Byfleet To The Bush, was published in 2012.
