Broome actress Ningali Lawford-Wolf dies in UK

Broome actress Ningali Lawford-Wolf has died while on tour in the UK, aged 52.

The performer and mentor was hospitalised in London after falling ill while touring for the Sydney Theatre Company’s The Secret River at the Edinburgh International Festival.

STC said in a statement today that Ms Lawford-Wolf died on Sunday.

The Wangkatjungka woman, born in Christmas Creek Station in the Kimberley’s far north, was known for her roles in films including Rabbit Proof Fence, Bran Nue Dae and Last Cab to Darwin, as well as television shows Mystery Road and The Circuit.

She performed in the 1990 play Bran Nue Dae, written by famous Broome playwright the late Jimmy Chi.

Ms Lawford-Wolf was also an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer at Broome Senior High School.

A spokesperson for STC said the company was “absolutely devastated” to confirm the death of Ms Lawford-Wolf and that she was an “incredibly talented performer, as well as a wonderfully caring and thoughtful person.”

“We have lost one of Australian theatre’s greatest treasures,” the spokesperson said.