Former Brookside actress Anna Norbury dies aged 26: Soap star whose pioneering role helped raise awareness of Down Syndrome is remembered for her ‘beautiful and innocent humanity’
Former Brookside actress Anna Norbury has died at the age of 26, with her mother paying tribute to her 'beautiful and innocent humanity,' after her pioneering role helped raise awareness of Down Syndrome
Anna was best known for playing Alice Farnham in the Channel 4 soap from 1994 to 1997.
The actress, who helped raise awareness of Down Syndrome during her career, died on September 7, her family have shared today. The cause has not been made public.
Anna's mother Maria wrote in an obituary published in The Telegraph, which read: 'She will be remembered for her warmth, her wit, her clarity, her forthrightness, and above all for her beautiful and innocent humanity.
Anna Norbury's mother Maria, pictured together in November 2019, paid a moving tribute to the former Brookside actress
Former Brookside co-star Michael Starke and Anna's aunt Katharine Norbury shared moving tribute to the actress
Anna Norbury became a familiar face on Brookside in the 1990s and later appeared on Channel 4's documentary, Home Free
'Anna may have been born with special needs, but she was so special and unique in herself that we were the ones who needed her.
'Her smile shone a bright light into the world of everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. Our loss is greater than we can ever say.'
Former co-star Michael Starke tweeted yesterday: 'Today we say farewell to Anna Norbury.
'She was ‘Baby Alice Farnham’ in Brookside.
'She was one of the most treasured and beautiful young cast members. Love and strength to her wonderful family.'
Mr Starke had previously said: 'Absolutely devastated to hear this sad news.
'Lovely little Anna who lit the whole set up at ‘Brookside’ when she was little baby Alice. Saw her at xmas when she came to see the Panto at Runcorn. She was a beautiful soul.'
Fellow Brookside and Coronation Street actress Gabrielle Glaister said she was 'sending love,' after hearing the news.
Anna spent three years on Channel 4 soap Brookside, joining in 1994.
A day after her death, Anna's aunt Katharine Norbury tweeted: 'Anna Kate Norbury who won the hearts of millions as Alice Farnham in Brookside and more recently in the Channel 4 documentary Home Free with her boyfriend Joe, with whom she was on the cusp of beginning independent living has died aged 26.
'Dearly dearly dearly loved.'
Anna Norbury and fiance Joe starred in Home Free, a two-part documentary that followed young people learning disabilities who were leaving home for the first time
Anna starred in Home Free on Channel 4 last year, a documentary which followed a group of young people with learning disabilities who were leaving home for the first time and moving into supported living apartments that offer up the chance of independent living.
Fans have remembered Anna after hearing the tragic news.
Helen Crompton wrote: 'Sad news, I remember Alice being born, such a lovely little actress.
'May she rest eternally in peace, thoughts are with her family and those who knew and worked with her.'