West End actress Sophiya Haque dies at 41, two weeks after being told she has cancer

Tributes pour in for 'wonderful, inspirational and compassionate' friend
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Kiran Randhawa18 January 2013

Tributes poured in today for a leading actress who died just two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sophiya Haque, who starred in several West End productions as well as TV shows including Coronation Street, passed away peacefully in her sleep last night.

The 41-year-old fell ill just before Christmas and was only recently told that she had cancer.

While undergoing tests Ms Haque developed a clot on her lungs and died at a London hospital.

Her agent Oliver Thomson broke down in tears today as he told of his shock at losing “such a wonderful friend”.

He said: “Sophiya was a wonderful actress, a wonderful client but so much more than that, a wonderful friend. She was adored by everyone she worked with and will be deeply missed.”

Stuart Piper, managing director of her management group, Cole Kitchenn, said: “Sophiya was one of the most inspirational people I ever met. She was the kind of person you always want to spend time with, full of light, warmth, compassion, care and with an infectiously wicked sense of humour and I loved every minute of working with her.

“On stage, it was like you were watching her in close up even if you were sitting at the back of the stalls such was her star presence and charisma. I am so desperately sad that she has been lost to the world at such a tragically young age, but feel blessed to have known her. Our whole team miss her greatly”.

Ms Haque lived in London with her partner, musical director David White, and the couple were in the process of building a houseboat when she fell ill.

She had most recently appeared in Privates on Parade as part of the Michael Grandage season in the West End.

Ms Haque, who played barmaid Poppy Morales in Coronation Street and also played alongside Angelina Jolie in the hit film Wanted, was well known for her roles in West End productions including Bombay Dreams, The Far Pavilions and Wah Wah Girls.

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