Blake’s 7 star Jacqueline Pearce has died aged 74 and this fabulous Russell T Davies story tops our favourite 21 tributes
People have been paying tribute to Blake’s 7 star Jacqueline Pearce who has died aged 74.
Pearce, who will always be Supreme Commander Servalan to us, died shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
This is what her friend John Ainsworth said about her, announcing her death on Monday.
“She was outrageous, she was very honest and very straightforward, which didn’t always go down very well, but you knew where you were with her.
“She liked a glass of champagne and liked everyone to have a good time with her, and of course she was a brilliant actress and everyone who worked with her remembered her very fondly.”
And here are some of our favourite tributes which show just how much affection there was for her, beginning with this from former Doctor Who showrunner and all-round telly giant, Russell T Davies.
1.
https://twitter.com/darren_scott/status/1036675257355132929
2.
Some say Darth Vader was the greatest leader of an evil space empire. But Jacqueline Pearce did it arms aloft, in high heels. Who didn't secretly yearn to be subjugated by her? Supreme Commander, we salute you. pic.twitter.com/FnxmPvmSDL
— Matthew Sweet (@DrMatthewSweet) September 3, 2018
3.
They say you should never meet your heroes. They are, of course, talking nonsense. Jacqueline Pearce was a wonderful actor, a glorious eccentric, a luminous character and a beautiful soul. Working with her was one of the greatest honours of my life. Maximum power, Jacks. x pic.twitter.com/einz4JTzq3
— Nicholas Pegg (@NicholasPegg) September 3, 2018
4.
https://twitter.com/MakingBlakes7/status/1036715569855320066
5.
Very sad to hear of the passing of Jacqueline Pearce, the formidable Servalan of Blake's 7. She was glamorous and terrifying in equal measure. https://t.co/8WVKp3WVT5 pic.twitter.com/Eiu8P6Wd4O
— Adam Richard (@adamrichard) September 3, 2018
6.
Last time I met and interviewed the late Jacqueline Pearce was for a tv series called Mondo Rosso. She was 60 and modelling nude for a life drawing class. Just Fabulous.
— Jonathan Ross (@wossy) September 3, 2018
7.
Jacqueline Pearce was, and remains, one of the all-time greats. Best cinematic villain, achieved on a BBC budget (and my, didn’t they spend most of that on the spectacular clothes) https://t.co/xV7z7K49eH
— Dr Tansy Rayner Roberts (@tansyrr) September 3, 2018
8.
RIP Jacqueline Pearce. I interviewed her when I worked on Cult TV magazine, back in '97. "Have you heard of Cult TV?" I asked, as we walked to the interview room. She gave an imperious laugh. "Darling, I AM cult TV!" pic.twitter.com/KQw6zt3aMV
— Nick Setchfield (@NickSetchfield) September 3, 2018
9.
So sad to hear that Jacqueline Pearce has left us. We loved her as the magnificently malevolent Servalan in Blake's Seven (1978-81). She was also an exquisitely sensitive Mariana in the BBC's 1979 production of Shakespeare's Measure For Measure. pic.twitter.com/l9InQNzOPA
— Shakespeare Magazine (@UKShakespeare) September 3, 2018
10.
— Making Blake’s 7 (@MakingBlakes7) September 3, 2018
11.
And this was all the reasons we loved Jacqueline Pearce. https://t.co/yvmw7RhC6H
— Simon Hart (@Si_Hart) September 3, 2018