Actress Billie Whitelaw dies aged 82

Acclaimed actress Billie Whitelaw, famous for her roles on stage and screen, has died at the age of 82.

The Coventry-born star, who was made a CBE in 1991, worked in close collaboration with playwright Samuel Beckett.

Whitelaw died on Sunday in the early hours at a nursing home in London, said her son Matthew Muller, reported

BBC Online .

“I could not have asked for a more loving mum. She had an incredible career - but first and foremost she was my mum - and that’s who I will miss,” he said.

Whitelaw made her radio acting debut aged just 11.

In 1950, she made her first stage appearance in Bradford in a performance of Pink String and Sealing Wax, before moving into films and television.

She was well known for her role as Mrs Baylock in horror film The Omen.

Whitelaw also played a starring role as Violet Kray in The Krays and more recently appeared in comedy Hot Fuzz.

During her career, she won a British Academy Award for best newcomer for her role in Hell is a City. She also won Best Supporting Actress for her parts in Twisted Nerve and Charlie Bubbles .