Australian actress Ningali Lawford-Wolf dies during Edinburgh Festival By Angie Brown

BBC Scotland, Edinburgh and East reporter Published duration 15 August 2019 Related Topics Edinburgh International Festival

image copyright Ryan Buchanan Photography image caption Ningali Lawford-Wolf had been performing in Edinburgh in The Secret River

The Australian actress Ningali Lawford-Wolf has died after falling ill while on tour with a production at the Edinburgh International Festival.

The 52-year-old, who had been performing in the show, The Secret River, died on Sunday.

She was a regular at the festival but was best known for acclaimed performances in films including Rabbit-Proof Fence.

Sydney Theatre Company said they were "absolutely devastated" by the news.

Two shows in Edinburgh were cancelled last week after Ms Lawford-Wolf fell ill before one of her cast mates stepped into her role as narrator for the remaining four performances.

'Incredibly talented'

In a statement Sydney Theatre Company paid tribute to the actress.

It read: "Ningali was an incredibly talented performer as well as a wonderfully caring and thoughtful person. We've lost one of Australian theatre's greatest treasures."

Ningali was a Wangkatjungka woman born under a tree at Christmas Creek Station in the far north Kimberley region of Western Australia.