Entertainment

Emma Chambers, star of Notting Hill and The Vicar of Dibley has died

British actress Emma Chambers has died aged 53. She was best known for playing the role of Alice Tinker in the BBC  comedy The Vicar of Dibley and Honey Thacker in the film Notting Hill.

Her agent, John Grant said she died of natural causes on Wednesday evening. Grant said of Chambers that “over the years, Emma created a wealth of characters and an immense body of work. She brought laughter and joy to many, and will be greatly missed,” asking that the privacy of the family and loved ones be respected at this difficult time.

Tributes for the actress poured in from celebrities on Twitter.

Hugh Grant reacted to the devastating news: “Emma Chambers was a hilarious and very warm person and of course a brilliant actress. Very sad news.”

James Dreyfus, who starred alongside Chambers in Notting Hill tweeted: “RIP the wonderful and talented Emma Chambers. Unique,& unspeakably funny. Too young. Thoughts with her family.”

Eastender actress Cheryl Fergison tweeted: “What an amazing lovely wonderfully funny charming and talented actress Emma Chambers was. Such sad news and only one year older than myself it all becomes pretty obvious that enjoying you’re life to the full is the most important thing. Love & hugs to her family & friends.”

Her friend and fellow broadcaster Emma Freud tweeted: “Our beautiful friend Emma Chambers has died at the age of 53. We’re very very sad. She was a great, great comedy performer, and a truly fine actress. And a tender, sweet, funny, unusual, loving human being.”

Jeremy Clarkson, the former Top Gear presenter, recalled Chambers being ‘very funny’: “I’m sad about Emma Chambers. Knew her when she was a kid in Doncaster.”

On Twitter, fans are commemorating Chambers using the hashtag #ICantBelieveItsNotButter, a reference to one of her most famous scenes in the Vicar of Dibley.