VIVEAN Gray - best known for playing Neighbours battleaxe Mrs Mangel - has died.

The actress passed away at home aged 92.

British born, Vivean played the iconic role of Nell Mangel from 1986-1988 before leaving the soap, and quitting acting altogether.

4 Vivean Gray played the iconic nosy neighbour for two years

One of four children, she moved to Australia from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, to look for acting opportunities in 1952.

Sadly her talent was a double-edged sword.

It's thought one of the main reasons she left Neighbours was because fans found her portrayal of the bitter and waspish stickybeak so convincing.

4 The actress made a huge impact on Australian TV Credit: Rex Features

4 The actress revealed that fans thought she was the same as her on-screen character Credit: .

Speaking about her fan's struggle to separate her from her character in the 1989 book The Neighbours Factfile, she revealed: “I loved Neighbours and the rest of the cast were marvellous.

“But because it was so successful I could barely set foot outside my own door without someone screaming abuse at horrid old ‘Mrs Mangel’.”

“People didn’t seem to appreciate it was acting. So I decided to take a break.”

Vivean Gray:Legend many times over.I was privileged to know and work with her.We laughed a lot creating The Mangel https://t.co/1sejJjptOO. — MARK LITTLE (@themarklittle) July 29, 2016

After retiring from acting, Vivean led a very quiet and private life.

Prior to Neighbours, she played Ida Jessup - another nosy neighbour always causing a nuisance - in long-running Aussie soap The Sullivans.

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4 After leaving the show the star led a very private and quite life Credit: .

Mark Little – who played her onscreen son Joe Mangel – led the tributes tweeting: “Legend many times over. I was privileged to know and work with her. We laughed a lot creating the Mangel Dynasty. RIP.”

Rick Maier, Network Ten’s Head of Drama, paid his respects, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: “Mrs Mangel and Mrs Jessup were two of our most iconic characters from one our very best character actors.

That time when Helen Daniels painted Mrs Mangel with a long neck. RIP Mrs Mangel #Neighbours pic.twitter.com/rgn2WhY1vk — NORN IRON® Brand (@NornIronTShirts) July 29, 2016

“Ramsay Street changed forever, and certainly no secret was ever safe, with Mrs Mangel on the lookout.

“Vivean’s contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours’ family.”

Fans of the show were equally as devastated about the news – and took to Twitter to pay their respects.

“Farewell Mrs Mangel. Lots of childhood memories of her battling with Madge,” wrote one.

Feeling the love for Mrs Mangel on here tonight. Don't worry she is up there taking Bouncer for a walk 😂🐶 — 🎧The80sHub.com📺 (@80sHub) July 28, 2016

RIP the wonderful Vivean Gray, who played the iconic character Mrs Mangel in @neighbours - such a brilliant actress. pic.twitter.com/MkWTRF9hbS — Leo Stubbing (@LeoStubbing) July 28, 2016

Another fan tweeted: “RIP #ViveanGray - played Mrs Mangel in @neighbours and Edna in @PrisonerCBH - childhood memories.”

While a further fan wrote: “Farewell then Mrs Mangel; every soap needs a pious interfering busybody and you were the Queen of them all #MrsMangel #childhoodmemories.”

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