Australian actress Lillian Crombie has died aged 66.
The Port Pirie-born star was best known for her roles in cult TV series The Secret Life of Us and Mystery Road, as well as Baz Luhrmann's film Australia.
Crombie's death was announced on Tuesday by her daughter Elaine Crombie, who shared a moving tribute to her beloved mother on Facebook.
“Lily of the Valley danced around the world, played on stages around the world, graced the big and small screens, and definitely left an imprint in our lives,” she wrote.
The sad news was soon flooded with tributes to the proud Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman, including one from well-known Indigenous actress Natasha Wanganeen.
Australian actress Lillian Crombie has died aged 66. In the picture
The Port Pirie-born star was best known for her roles in cult TV series The Secret Life of Us and Mystery Road, as well as Baz Luhrmann's film Australia. Pictured alongside the cast of Australia including Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and director Luhrmann
“Thank you for everything you have done for our people.” “You are an inspiration and always will be to everyone who knew and loved you,” she wrote.
Elsewhere, the South Australian Film Corporation said it noted the news with “deep sadness”.
In 2019, Crombie received a lifetime achievement award from the Equity Foundation for her contributions to the arts.
Crombie's death was announced on Tuesday by her daughter Elaine Crombie, who shared a moving tribute to her beloved mother on Facebook. “Lily of the Valley danced around the world, played on stages around the world, graced the big and small screens, and definitely left an imprint in our lives,” she wrote
Australian playwright and artistic director Wesley Enoch described her as a pioneer who paved the way for First Nations storytelling.
“Her amazing comedic timing is legendary.” “Who could ever resist the way she blinks her eyes, flashes her smile and makes you laugh while teaching a big life lesson,” he said at the time.
“Working with Lillian is like a roller coaster ride where you can guess in the rehearsal room, but in front of an audience she always manages to win hearts and minds.”
In addition to her distinguished career on the screen, she has also appeared on stage with some of the country's most renowned theater companies, including Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Theater Company and the State Theater Company of SA.
In 2015, Lillian founded the Lillian Crombie Foundation to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families traveling, whether for “sorry business” when they have lost loved ones or to visit seriously ill family members.
The sad news was soon flooded with tributes to the proud Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman, including one from well-known Indigenous actress Natasha Wanganeen. “Thank you for everything you have done for our people.” “You are an inspiration and always will be to everyone who knew and loved you,” she wrote
Lillian Crombie of 'The Secret Life of Us' and 'Mystery Road' dies at 66 as tributes pour in for actress who starred alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Baz Luhrmann's epic 'Australia' from 2008, will be flooded