Esta Terblanche of “All My Children” has passed away. She was 51 years old.
The South African actress “passed away suddenly” on Thursday at her North Hollywood home, her godmother, Barbie Ashley, told TMZ on Sunday.
According to TMZ, medical personnel believe Terblanche had been dead for about a day before she was discovered.
Esta Terblanche. © ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Her representative, Lisa Rodrigo, told TMZ the star’s death is under investigation.
Terblanche rose to fame after winning Miss Teen South Africa in 1991.
Her first acting role was as Bienki Naude Hartman in South Africa’s first soap opera, Egoli: Place of Gold, which aired from 1992 to 1995.
Cameron Matheson as Esta Terblanche in “All My Children” in 1998. © ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
In 1997, she played the role of Gillian Andrassy on All My Children.
Gillian is a Hungarian princess. She starts off as a spoiled and arrogant girl, but grows into a kinder and more caring person.
Esta Terblanche and Cameron Matheson in “All My Children” in 1999. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
She was removed from the show in 2001.
Terblanche reprised the role briefly in 2011 as a ghost who haunts Cameron Matheson’s Ryan Lavery. The show ended in 2013.
Esta Terblanche and Cameron Mathison in “All My Children” in 2001. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
She spoke about returning to the show in an interview with Soap Opera Digest published a week before news of her death broke.
“When I got back, me and Cameron were really emotional, we both started crying when we saw each other,” Tarbranch said. “It was a really emotional moment for both of us because we hadn’t seen each other in years at that point.”
After leaving All My Children, she quit acting and returned to South Africa.
Daniel Cosgrove, TC Warner, Cameron Matheson, and Esta Terblanche in the 1990s. Steven Bergman / AFF-USA.COM / MEGA
But in an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Terblanche said she’s been spending more time in the US and is ready to return to her Hollywood career.
“It’s definitely something I’d like to do again,” she said.
Ms Terblanche also spoke about her relationship with Mr Matheson, 54.
Esta Berlanche and Cameron Mathison in “All My Children” in 1998. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
“I met Cameron recently. I was babysitting his beautiful dog Red, who had cancer, and he would do anything for Red,” she said. “He was only supposed to stay a day, but I kept saying he could stay longer, so after five nights he started walking. It was an amazing experience.”
Cameron Matheson, Esta Terblanche. Steven Bergman / AFF-USA.COM / MEGA
“A few months later Red passed away but in the meantime he had improved so much and we had such a special time together,” she added.
TerBlanche was involved with South African cancer foundation Create Your Breakthrough.
“The purpose is to help cancer patients get the treatment they need and fight this horrible disease,” she said in an interview. “I lost my mother to cancer and my father has cancer, so this is something I feel very passionate about.”
She continued, “I would be so happy if some kind of cure were found in our lifetime. It would be a miracle. It’s just heartbreaking to see someone go through this in front of your eyes.”
Terblanche was married to André Cocq from 1997 until their divorce in 2008.