Actress of Winscombe died aged 80

31 January 2010

A POPULAR Hollywood actress who once lived in North Somerset has died.

Golden Globe and Emmy award winner Jean Simmons died on January 22 after a battle with cancer.

The 80-year-old English actress, who later became an American citizen, was famed for star roles in top 1950s films such as The Robe, The Egyptian, Guys and Dolls and The Big Country.

During World War Two Jean and her family were evacuated to Winscombe.

Her father Charles was a teacher who taught briefly at Sidcot School.

After crossing the Atlantic in 1950 to become one of Hollywood's most popular leading ladies, Jean later made a successful comeback in 1995, starring alongside Winona Ryder in How to Make an American Quilt.

She received an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in The Thorn Birds and won her Golden Globe for best musical and comedy actress in Guys and Dolls.