ROBERTA Taylor has died at the age of 76 on July 6 2024, following a struggle with health issues for some months.
After appearing on our screens in 1979, she went on to have a celebrated career in TV before passing away in 2024.
Here’s what we know about the actress who played Irene Raymond in Albert Square and bobby Gina Gold in The Bill.
Roberta Taylor was an icon on the small screen, appearing in some of the biggest British shows.
She had a true cockney upbringing. Roberta was born in Plainstow, East London, before moving to the Isle of Dogs when she was young.
Both her mum and her dad were bus conductors, though her dad, Robert, left home when Roberta was young.
She was raised by her mother, her grandmother and her aunties. It was this upbringing that she said made her the strong woman that she grew up to be.
Roberta Taylor died on July 6 2024 from pneumonia, following a fall several months earlier.
The 76-year-old had also suffered with emphysema, caused by smoking for many years.
She is survived by her son, Elliot, from her first marriage to Victor Taylor, as well as her second husband and granddaughter.
Roberta was known for playing tough, no-nonsense characters that audiences fell in love with.
For many, their first introduction to Roberta was when she played Irene Raymond in Eastenders, joining the show in 1997.
Irene Raymond was a bold, matriarchal character with a wide range of dramatic plot lines, involving new age trends and younger men.
One of her biggest and most scandalous plot lines involved an affair with Troy Harvey, who was almost half her character’s age.
Roberta’s character left the show in a shock exit to Alicante, Spain.
When the strain in their marriage became too great, Irene’s husband gave her money and a car and dared her to leave.
Irene drove off into the sun and into freedom, leaving Roberta free to explore other characters beyond Walford Square.
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After leaving Eastenders in 2000, Roberta joined ITV’s The Bill in 2002.
She took on the role of Gina Gold, a hard-drinking, tough-talking Inspector at Sun Hill police station.
Her character tackled some hard hitting plot lines, including her own character’s arrest for drink driving and a long-time rivalry with arch-villain Irene Radford. Irene Radford was played by the late Lynda Bellingham.
After the kidnap of the fan-favourite character Dale Smith, known as “Smithy”, Gina finally decided to quit the Police Force.
Roberta continued to act after leaving The Bill in 2008.
She appeared in the BBC’s Luther, wrote a novel and appeared in several plays.
Roberta met her husband, Peter Guinness, at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. She worked at the theatre from 1980 until 1992.
The couple dated for years, before finally marrying in 1996.
Like Roberta, Peter Guinness was a star on TV and on the stage.
He appeared in Hollywood blockbusters, starring in the Alien franchise, as well as a range of BBC dramas.
The couple even appeared on screen together on The Bill, with Peter playing Gina Gold’s lover.
