A distinguished Jamaican-British actress of Chinese descent, Hammond has been hailed as a “pioneer” and “pioneer” for her work on stage, screen, television and radio and for her support of black British actors. After the news of her death, honors were paid to her. The president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Marcus Ryder, tweeted: “Sad to wake to the news that Mona Hammond has passed away.” Loose Women presenter Charlene White tweeted: “Mona Hammond, trailblazer in every way. Thanks.” Radio presenter and journalist Lorraine King wrote: “RIP Mona Hammond. An extremely talented Jamaican actress who did theater and television but will always be Aunt SuSu from Desmond’s to many of us. “She will be greatly missed. May she sleep peacefully.” Hammond was made an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List in 2005 for services to drama. In 2018, she was presented with a Women of the World Lifetime Achievement Award for her career in theater and advocacy for black British actors. The latter award was for her work with the Talawa Theater Company, one of the UK’s most prominent black theater companies, which she co-founded in response to the lack of creative opportunities for black actors. The company has produced more than 80 productions, from African classics to Oscar Wilde. Mona Hammond on stage at West Indies Playboy in 1984, alongside T-Bone Wilson. Photo: Donald Cooper/Alamy Born in Jamaica, Hammond, whose real name was Mavis Chin, immigrated to the UK in 1959 on a Jamaican scholarship and worked for the architects Norman & Dawbarn. She attended evening classes at the City Literary Institute in London for two years and was awarded a Rada scholarship. Graduating in 1964, Hammond began her career in stage and television. Her first starring role was as Lady Macbeth at the Roundhouse in London in 1970 in the African version of Peter Coe’s play. He starred in many plays by up-and-coming black writers over the years and spent two years at the National Theatre. He also appeared in numerous films including Coriolanus, 10,000 BC, Kinky Boots, Manderlay and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Hammond moved to television with roles in shows such as The Sweeney, Juliet Bravo, Holby City, Coronation Street and Casualty. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST One of her best known roles was Aunt Susu in the Channel 4 sitcom Desmond’s from 1990 to 1994. She reprized the role in the short-lived spin-off Porkpie from 1995 to 1996. Between 1994 and 1997 she was Blossom Jackson in EastEnders, and reappeared briefly in 2010 at the funeral of her on-screen great-grandson Billie Jackson. Blossom was actually Hammond’s second soap opera incarnation: she previously played Michelle Fowler’s midwife in 1986. Hammond also appeared on radio in The Archers, where she played Mabel Thompson, the mother of Alan Franks’ dead wife. She is survived by her son and a granddaughter.
