Former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell has died three years after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, her manager said.
Leah, 55, starred as Zoe Tate from 1989 to 2005 and was part of the legendary Tate family, as well as being the first lesbian character in a British soap.
‘It is with the deepest sadness that Leah Bracknell’s family confirm that Leah passed away in September, three years after her diagnosis with stage 4 lung cancer,’ said her manager.
‘They would like to thank all the public for their support and generosity which contributed to the extension and quality of her life over the past three years. Leah continued to embrace life and faced her illness with positivity. Many aspects of her journey can be found on her blog.
‘Leah was best known and much loved as Zoe Tate in Emmerdale. She also had roles in Judge John Deed, A Touch of Frost, The Royal Today and DCI Banks to name just a few, as well as numerous appearances on stage and in pantomime. As well as acting, Leah was also an accomplished yoga teacher and shamanic healer.
‘Leah had an energy and enthusiasm for life, a kind heart and much love to give to those around her.
‘Her family have asked for privacy at this very sad time.’
John Whiston, the manager director of Continuing Drama & Head of ITV in the North said in a statement: ‘Everyone on Emmerdale is very sad to hear of the death of Leah Bracknell.
‘Leah was a hugely popular member of the Emmerdale cast for over 16 years.
‘During that time she featured in some of the show’s most high profile and explosive plots and always delivered a pitch perfect performance.
‘Zoe Tate was one of soaps first lesbian characters and Leah made sure the character was both exciting and credible. Leah herself was a very generous and caring colleague, much loved by cast and crew alike.’
The actress revealed her lung cancer diagnosis on her fundraising page for her to undergo treatment overseas, due to a lack of options available on the NHS.
More than 2,500 fans joined together to raise £50,000 to help pay for cutting-edge treatment for her in Germany.
She thanked everyone involved, adding: ‘I really did not expect or feel deserving of such interest and kindness.’
In August, she shared with fans that her treatment had stopped working.
Leah wed her long-term partner Jez Hughes in 2017 after her diagnosis.
The pair said ‘I do’ during a low key registry office in Horsham, Sussex.
In November 2017, Leah also took to Twitter to reveal that she was documenting her experiences with the disease in a blog titled Something Beginning With C, and in October 2018 she shared: ‘I have just celebrated the second anniversary of the day I almost died.
‘But I didn’t. I have also just passed the two-year mark from the day on which I received a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer.
‘And last week, the long-awaited scan results from the first phase of the trial I am on, have come back with the encouraging news that, currently, the cancer is stable. The celebration is muted, one of relief rather than champagne and fireworks. But it is without doubt the most positive news to come my way in almost a year.’
Talking in February 2019 on ITV’s Loose Women she said she had a positive outlook on life and was not fearful despite being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
She revealed she had been diagnosed after rapid weight gain around her abdomen and breathlessness prompted her to seek medical help.
She said: ‘I’ve talked before about how my response was one of absolute anger, it’s infuriating – how dare you tell me this – which is why I didn’t want someone to guesstimate what someone thought my prognosis would be.
‘It’s based on statistics that could be out of date, that could be not about my age, not about my specific sort of cancer. I don’t want to be a statistic.’
The 55-year-old gave a speech at a cancer awareness festival in July.
Leah talked about the importance of ‘keeping your head above water’ and ’embracing life’.
‘I wrote The Cancer Rebel’s Manifesto for life as a reminder to myself what it takes to keep your head above water,’ Leah told the crowd.
‘To thrive, and to keep on keepin’ on while living with cancer and defying expectation every single day.’
Leah continued: ‘Against the fear of cancer, against my prognosis, against pity from others and myself, against being diminished by cancer.’
Addressing the audience, she went on: ‘I embrace the strength of my spirit. I embrace every opportunity that cancer gives me to learn, to grow, to expand, I embrace the glass half full, I embrace healing, I embrace laughter, I embrace joy, I embrace hope.’
Leah was born Alison Rosalind Bracknell on 12 July 1964.
A mother of two, she was also known for her work teaching at the British School of Yoga and for creating her own line of jewellery.Her
She left the ITV soap in 2005 in an episode voted the Best Exit at the British Soap Awards in May 2006, but went on to appear on Judge John Deed, Casualty 1907, Doctors and another ITV1 soap, The Royal Today.
She also turned her attention to theatre, starring in both Gaslight and Strangers On A Train.
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