EastEnders star leaves HUGE sum of money in her will after her death last year aged 89

EastEnders star Sylvia Syms left a whopping £1.43million in her will when she died, it has been revealed.

The actress – who played Peggy Mitchell’s pal Olive Woodhouse in Albert Square from 2007 to 2010 – died in January 2023 at the age of 89.

It has now been revealed by The sun that Sylvia had more than £1.4 million to her name, and donated some of the money to drama schools and charities.

Most of her money, including her assets, was left to her children Ben and Beatie, who took after their mother when they ventured into the world of acting.

Sylvia donated £5,000 to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art school, a prestigious acting college, and £2,000 each to the charities Intermission and Age UK.

The actress died in January last year (pictured in TV program The Saint in 1963)

The stage and screen star also allowed her close friends, including advisor Peter Stephens, to pick a painting of their choice from her collection.

Sylvia ‘died peacefully’ in January last year at Denville Hall, a care home in London for people from the entertainment industry.

She was best known for her role as Sister Diana in the 1958 film Ice Cold In Alex, which chronicled the Western Desert campaign during World War II.

Her most recent role was in the 2019 BBC period drama Gentleman Jack as Mrs Rawson.

A statement from her children, Beatie and Ben Edney, said: ‘Our mother, Sylvia, passed away peacefully this morning. She lived an amazing life and brought us joy and laughter until the end.

‘Yesterday we reminisced about all our adventures together. She will be missed so much.

‘We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have provided to our mother over the past year.’

Sylvia was born on January 6, 1934 in London. When war broke out in Europe, Sylvia became one of thousands of children evacuated from the capital. She moved first to Kent and then, in 1940, to Monmouthshire.

Sylvia played Peggy Mitchell’s friend Olive Woodhouse on Albert Square from 2007 to 2010

The Sun has now revealed that Sylvia had more than £1.4 million to her name and had donated some of the money to drama schools and charities (pictured in 2008).

Most of her money, including her assets, was left to her children Ben and Beatie, who took after their mother when they ventured into the world of acting (pictured at her wedding in 1956)

Sylvia (right) also starred alongside Sir Cliff Richard in Expresso Bongo and before later working with Dame Helen Mirren in the hit film The Queen

Speaking of evacuation, she said: ‘When I was sent away, parents couldn’t get onto the platform to say goodbye, they had to wave from afar. It was pretty terrible.”

She later recalled the trauma of separation from her family and separation from her mother, who died of a brain tumor when Sylvia was just 12.

“Sending me away from home gave me the impression that I was not loved, which was unfair, but it is the truth,” she said. “That’s why I became an artist and I never stopped working.”

As a youngster, Sylvia was educated at convent schools before receiving dramatic training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

It was here that her love for the performing arts flourished and in 1954 that dream became a reality when she stage debut in a production of ‘The Apple Cart’.

Sylvia was later awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. The actress is pictured receiving her honor from the late Queen during a service at Buckingham Palace.

The talented star went on to star in more films, including Ice-Cold in Alex, The Moonraker and Woman in a Dressing Gown.

And she was nominated for Bafta Awards for Woman in a Dressing Gown and No Trees on the Street.

Sylvia also starred alongside Sir Cliff Richard in Expresso Bongo and before later working with Dame Helen Mirren in the hit film The Queen, where she appeared alongside the Oscar-winning actress as the Queen Mother.