Haydn Gwynne Has Passed Away

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 8:36am

I am devastated!

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67172672

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 8:39am

This is so sad - I saw her in Billy Elliot on Broadway and vividly recall her remarkable performance to this day.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 8:41am

I never saw her live but I loved her voice. Her performance in the Gala night of Old Friends brought tears to my eyes. I had no idea she was that sick. May she rest in peace!

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:17am

Very sad. She was an enormous talent that rarely received the recognition she deserved. 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:37am

I loved her performance in last year's Sondheim memorial concert. Very sad that she had to drop out of the current London run right as rehearsals started. Obviously a very sudden turn of events. A real talent, who loved her job. I love her "Invisible" from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:44am

I saw her play Desiree in a production of ALNM at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, the same theatre that presented Maria Friedman’s production of Merrily 5-6 years ago.  She was the second best of all the Desiree’s that I saw, Glynis Johns being the first.  Loved her.  She was also terrific in Billy Elliott, a show that I was otherwise relatively indifferent towards.  Such a loss at what is these days a pretty young age.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:48am

Very young. Especially considering that your number one Desiree is still alive, Jarethan.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:53am

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Very young. Especially considering that your number one Desiree is still alive, Jarethan."

Amazing when you think about it, and still apparently as sharp as a tack!  Sign me up for that prescription.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:56am

I was just going to ask if anyone had seen her Desiree.

So sad. What a great actress, and glad we have her performance in Sondheim's Old Friends on film.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 11:51am

She was wonderful in The Threepenny Opera and The Windsors, what a loss. Thank you Dylan for creating a thread with a respectful title regarding someone's death, I really appreciate it. 

Rest in Paradise, Beauty



 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 12:14pm

If we're debating death notice headlines again, I'll just say that I prefer the BroadwayWorld news one. "Haydn Gwynne Dies Aged 66" is succinct and matter-of-fact. Although BroadwayWorld usually does mention when the deceased is a Tony nominee. Which Haydn was.

Speaking of which, why was she only Featured Actress for Billy Elliot? I would think that the role of Mrs. Wilkinson is crucial enough to warrant Leading. That's what the Oliviers thought.

[bekk99]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 11:56pm

So sad, she was also spunky and sublime just this past May as the "Prue" character in the Bake Off Musical.