Crossroads and Ipcress File actress Sue Lloyd dies aged 72

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:42 AM on 23rd October 2011

Legendary actress Sue Lloyd has passed away at the age of 72.

The actress - best known for her role in hit ITV soap, Crossroads, was today being remembered by family and famous friends following her death on October 20.

Actress, Joan Collins took to her Twitter page yesterday to pay tribute to the star, with whom she worked with in the seventies.

End of an era: British actress Sue Lloyd passed away on October 20 at the age of 72

'Sad 2 hear of death of Sue Lloyd. Worked with her on Stud & Bitch. Had 2 get drunk to do nude pool scene in Stud - almost drowned laughing!' Collins posted.

The duo were famous for starring in the hit films together - which were based on the novels written by Collins' sister, Jackie.

Friends: Sue starred alongside Joan Collins in hit seventies films The Stud and The Bitch

Paying tribute: Actress Joan Collins took to her Twitter account today to acknowledge the sad news

Lloyd, who played Barbara Hunter in Crossroads, was left broken-hearted in 1991 when her actor husband, Ronald Allen, who also played her onscreen husband in the hit soap, died of cancer just weeks after they were married.

Her niece, Joanna Mitchell told the Telegraph: 'Sue suffered with her health in recent years, but she never complained.

'She had a great sense of fun. She worked with people like Peter Sellers and Ronnie Barker and they became her friends. She was very gregarious and got on with everyone she met.'

Real love: Sue met Ronald Allen when she played his onscreen wife in the hit ITV soap Crossroads, but the couple soon struck up a relationship off screen as well

Husband and wife: The couple got married in Crossroads but also married each other in real life in 1991 just weeks before Ronald passed away from cancer

Lloyd was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk in August 1939 and studied dance as a child, attending the Sadler's Wells Ballet School.

Although she was briefly a member of Lionel Blair's dance troupe, as Lloyd's height increased the possibilities for a career dance decreased and she became a showgirl and a model instead.

Lloyd eventually broke into television and throughout the sixties and seventies she made many guest appearances on several popular shows, including The Saint, Department S, Jason King, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and The Sweeney.

Movie star: Sue starred alongside actor Michael Caine in the 1965 film The Ipcress File and again in the Bullet to Beijing which was made in the mid nineties

Lloyd also enjoyed the regular role of Cordelia Winfield, alongside Steve Forrest, in The Baron, but it was her part in the 1965 film The IPCRESS File where she starred alongside Michael Caine that seemed to get her noticed.

In 1971, Lloyd tried her hand at performing in the theatre and starred in a stage version of the TV series The Avengers playing John Steed's sidekick, Mrs Hannah Wild.

'Great sense of fun': Sue's niece Joanna Mitchell said the actress got on well with everyone she met

Four years later she began her role as Barbara Hunter in Crossroads where she remained until 1985 but Lloyd enjoyed a relationship with Allen off-screen for 13 years, long after the Midlands motel closed its doors in 1988.

Following her husband's death, the actress only starred in a handful of productions such as the TV show Keeping Up Appearances and movies U.F.O. and Bullet to Beijing with her last role being in the 2001 film, Beginner's Luck.

Lloyd who had no children, wrote a biography entitled, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, in 1998.