EastEnders star June Brown, best known for her role as soap legend Dot Cotton, tragically passed away aged 95.
The BBC announced June's passing earlier today with fans, friends and colleagues penning heartfelt tributes to the iconic star.
June played the chain-smoking hypochondriac and knicker-washer Dot Cotton for 35 years, quickly becoming a fan favourite both on and off Albert Square.
Despite having to face a lot of loss throughout her life, from the death of her husband to her child, the 95-year-old actress showed everyone how strong she was by never giving up, reports The Mirror.
As we say goodbye to one of British TV's all-time favourites, lets a look at her off-camera family life and what powered her to carry on performing.
Early torment
June didn't hang around when it came to finding love.
As a teenager she caught the eye of actor John Garley, and the pair fell head over heels for each other, meeting in 1950 at The Old Vic Theatre School which she attended after the war ended.
They married when June was 23-years-old but there was heartache ahead seven years later.
John tragically took his life in 1957 after suffering from depression.
"I walked into the bedroom and there was Johnny, lying on the bed, the gas fire propped up next to him," she told The Sun in 2017.
"Suicide was still a criminal offence in the late-Fifties. I'd got him breathing again but it was obvious he'd suffered severe brain damage."
Sibling heartache
June never got over losing her big sister when she was just eight years ago, three years after the death of brother John Peter.
The loss of beloved Marise over 80 years ago still affected her in her final years.
Her sibling died of mastoiditis, an ear infection, and nothing could be done to save her life.
"My life was changed twice by death," she wrote in her autobiography.
'I’ve never felt such loneliness. Her death was the defining moment of my life. Micie was the only person to know the real me. The result was that I’ve spent my life looking for a companion who could show me the same sort of love. I’ve never found anyone to match her."
Finding love again
She later married actor Robert Arnold and the pair had six children together in seven years.
She spent 45 years with him until his death in 2003 of Lewy-body dementia.
June said Robert believed that their old Folkestone home was haunted.
She described it as "a bit odd" - but loved living in Kent.
She said: “The people in Folkestone are pretty relaxed and they don’t stare at you when they pass you in the street, I much prefer that.
“I don’t mind talking to people but I have never seen what I do as anything other than my job. I’ve never been the celebrity sort.”
Losing a child
The proud mum-of-five lived for her children - but she always reserved a special place in her heart for little Chloe.
William, Naomi, Sophie, Louise were joined by a girl she and husband Robert also decided to name Chloe.
The tragic tot arrived at 28 weeks weighing barely two pounds.
June can’t be sure what went wrong, but believes food from a feeding tube got into Chloe’s fragile lungs.
But despite losing a child, she always refused to say she has had a troubled life.
"I can’t say my life has been dominated by tragedy," she said. "I refuse to accept that. I’ve had less than some, more than others."
Refusal to stop living life
June lived an indulgent life, refusing to give up cigarettes, red wine or dark chocolate.
She told The Radio Times: “I’m going to die of something fairly soon, so why not enjoy myself.
"I love red wine and also dark chocolate, even though I’m allergic to it and it makes me sneeze - and the Guinness helps me keep a bit of weight on. So I don’t need to be careful about what I eat or drink.
"What’s the point of counting how many cigarettes I smoke a day? I’ve been on them for over 70 years.”
But the star is no different to the rest of us when it comes to relaxing on the sofa, enjoying David Attenborough documentaries and Loose Women on the TV.
She also dedicates her energy to supporting local charities, and in 2012 she was appointed the first patron of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, performing with the group at the Brighton Dome.
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