# Grange Hill star Cleo Sylvestre, 79, dies as tributes paid to history-making actress ## Tributes pour in for 'inspirational' Grange Hill star Cleo Sylvestre The Grange Hill actress Cleo Sylvestre died on Wednesday at the age of 79 after a long illness. Sylvestre was best known playing an inspirational role in children's TV shows such as Sky One drama The Bill and ITV soap opera Crossroads. Sylvestre was born in London in 1943 and began her acting career in the early 1960s. She appeared in a number of films and television shows before landing the role of Miss Monroe in Grange Hill in 1986. Miss Monroe was a strict but fair teacher who was a role model for many young viewers. Sylvestre played the role for six years and left the show in 1992. ## Public remember an 'amazing woman' After leaving Grange Hill, Sylvestre continued to act and appeared in a number of stage productions and television shows. More recently, she had been working with the charity Crusaid, which supports people living with HIV and AIDS. Sylvestre's death has been met with an outpouring of grief from her friends, family and fans. Her former Grange Hill co-star Errol Brown said: "Cleo was an amazing woman who will be sadly missed. She was a true pioneer and an inspiration to many young people." Another of her colleagues on Grange Hill, Todd Carty, said: "Cleo was a wonderful actress and a lovely person. She was always so kind and supportive to me and I will never forget her.” ## A legacy of playing strong Black women Sylvestre's death is a reminder of not only the contributions she made within british television but the lack of diversity on our screens today. Sylvestre's legacy will continue to inspire young people, especially women of colour, to pursue their dreams and never give up. Cleo Sylvestre had a long and successful acting career, and she will be remembered as a talented actress and a role model for many. Here are some of the most notable roles she played: * Miss Monroe in Grange Hill (1986-1992) * Kim Walters in The Bill (1993-1996) * Shirley McLean in Crossroads (1995-1998) * Jan Ellis in Casualty (2000-2001) * Pauline Richards in Doctors (2003-2004) Sylvestre was also a talented stage actress, and she appeared in a number of productions, including: * Othello at the National Theatre (1989) * The Importance of Being Earnest at the Royal Exchange Theatre (1992) * A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (1993) In addition to her acting career, Sylvestre was also a vocal campaigner for racial equality, and she spoke out against racism and discrimination. She was a role model for many young people, and her death is a great loss to the entertainment industry and to society as a whole.
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