(NewsWorthy.news.com) – A South African actress known for her role in an American soap opera died suddenly last week.
Esta TerBlanche, who is best remembered in Hollywood for her involvement in the show “All My Children,” passed away on Thursday July 18 at her home in California. News of her death has been confirmed by both professional and personal connections. She was 51 years old. Her cause of death is reportedly under investigation.
Medical professionals have said they believe she had been dead for about one day prior to being found. Following news of her death, TerBlanche was mourned by fellow film professionals. Her manager, Annie Spoliansky, described her as “kind, loving, giving, and caring” and said she was “devastated to learn” that the actress had died.
Similarly, Cameron Mathison—who played the husband of TerBlanche’s character in “All My Children”—took to Instagram to lament the death of his former co-star. He referred to the late actress as “one of the sweetest people” he knew.
TerBlanche was born in Rustenburg, South Africa in 1973. Her acting career started at age 16, when she was the host of a children’s television show titled “K-T.V.” She also hosted a show called “Math No Problem.” At age 18, she was honored as Miss Teen South Africa.
The nation’s longest-running soap opera, called “Egoli: Place of Gold,” granted TerBlanche an opportunity for a recurring role. She played Bienke Naudé Hartman on the show, which focused on three families and ensuring drama and scandal. In the 1990s, she moved to America. TerBlanche once said in a podcast interview that she “knew in my heart” that she must pursue acting.
She landed at the Los Angeles International Airport at the age of 23 to follow that “path.” Her most memorable role, that of Gillian Andrassy in “All My Children,” came about following her audition for a role that, as she was told by the casting team, she was not old enough to play. However, a month later, she was called to New York to screen test for the role in which she was cast.
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