One of New Zealand's best known actresses Dame Pat Evison has died after a long illness at the age of 85.
Born as Helen June Patricia Blamires in Dunedin in June 1924, she went to school in Masterton, Victoria and Auckland Universities and attended Auckland Teachers' Training College.
She moved to Britain in the 1940s, training as a director at London's Old Vic Theatre Centre before taking up an role as assistant director with the Young Vic Theatre Company.
She returned to New Zealand as a freelance director before turning to an acting career, working on stage, radio and TV in Australia and New Zealand.
She acted in the Australian TV series Prisoner and The Flying Doctors.
In New Zealand, she worked in the 1970s drama series Pukemanu - a role that the show's creator, Julian Dickon, said made her recognised as that character all over the country - and featured in the Close to Home series.
Film appearances included playing the vampire's daughter in children's fantasy Grampire, and an unfriendly local in Bad Blood.
She was awarded an OBE in 1980 for her services to the theatre and was made a Dame in 1993.
She is survived by her husband Roger, two sons and a daughter.
An obituary will follow in the Otago Daily Times.
