EastEnders actress Mona Hammond dies: Who was she, her age, who did she play, and who was Blossom Jackson?

Actress Mona Hammond, most known for her roles as Jackson family matriarch Blossom Jackson in EastEnders, has died aged 91.

The BBC soap said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to hear that Mona Hammond has passed away.

"Mona created a no-nonsense grandmother in Blossom Jackson, who was adored by the audience and everyone who worked with her. Our love and thoughts are with Mona’s family and friends."

Her agent confirmed her death, stating that she passed away peacefully during the early hours of the morning (Tuesday, 5 July).

Who was Mona Hammond?

Mona Hammond was a Jamaican-British actress, whose most notable roles came in EastEnders and Desmond’s.

She was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services towards drama, a great accolade that reflected a career that spanned seven decades.

Her breakout role was her portrayal of Blossom Jackson, a prominent figure of one of the most loved UK soaps.

She played the role of the head of the family between 1994 and 1997, and then made another cameo in 2010, to attend her on-screen great-grandson Billie Jackson’s funeral.

Her role as Jackson was actually her second role in the BBC soap, and some eagle eyed viewers may have spotted the fact that she actually played a minor role in 1986, as she played the role of Michelle Fowler’s midwife.

Another milestone in her career was the role of Auntie Susu in ground-breaking sitcom Desmond’s, as well as spin-off show Porkpie.

The sitcom was aired on Channel 4 and became one of its longest running sitcoms.

She also played many more roles on some of the most loved TV shows to grace our screens, such as: Her numerous other TV roles included Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Casualty, The Sweeney, Chef! starring Lenny Henry, children’s TV series Pig-Heart Boy, based on a novel by Malorie Blackman and White Teeth, the adaptation of Zadie Smith’s debut novel.

Who was Blossom Jackson?

Blossom Jackson first appeared on EastEnders in 1994, and relocated to 25 Albert Square because her previous residence in Wapping was burgled.

She also managed to secure a job just metres from her house on the show, as she worked in Kathy Beale’s café.

She was also briefly the love interest of  Jules Tavernier, even moving in with him temporarily when the Jacksons’ house was damaged in a gas explosion. However, their relationship never progressed into anything serious.

The character left the show in 1997, as Hammond was suffering from “nervous exhaustion” and the way she left was in good style.

She initially struck up a romance with local barber Felix Kawalski.

Felix was a Holocaust survivor, who was separated from his family, and devoted pretty much all of his spare time tracking down his family, unaware if they were even alive.

He eventually tracked his sister down, and after reconnecting, he decided to move to Israel to live with her. He then made a brief appearance, asking Jackson to move to Israel with him and she agreed.

She then returned in 2010 for a funeral, starring in two episodes. Upon her brief return she mentioned that her partner Felix passed away in 2006.

What was her age?

Hammond enjoyed a long career that spanned around seven decades, and passed away aged 91.