Sunday November 18th 2001

Charlotte Coleman dies of an asthma attack, aged 33.

Many of my generation grew up with her, fondly following her TV roles as the child actress of Worzel Gummidge and Educating Marmalade (as Marmalade Atkins, The Worst Girl In The World), later graduating to Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Her wide-eyed, uncommon features set off by her childlike frame gave Ms Coleman a tendency to be cast as Unusual Girls: tomboys, lesbians, eccentrics who refuse to grow up, loud quirky best friends, thieves, murderesses. Recently, she appeared as a female gladiator in a Radio 4 play set in Roman Britain, Matinee Performance.

Even when playing relatively conventional roles, like the gentle rural schoolteacher of How Do You Want Me, Ms Coleman gave the character a palpably unique and personal air, that of a schoolgirl adventure forever continuing. Charismatic, ego-free, and lovable, she was someone that many either wanted to be or wanted to befriend or wanted to have adventures with. A genuine original.