British horror movie star and "Doctor Who" actress Barbara Shelley has died at 88. Her agent Thomas Bowington confirmed the news in a statement to The Sun, which was published on Monday. Shelley had reportedly contracted COVID-19 after a recent stay in the hospital but had recovered. Bowington said she had died from underlying issues.
Born on Feb. 13, 1932, in London, England, Shelley started her career as a model while trying to break into the film industry, according to IMDB. She made minor appearances in several films before establishing herself as a Gothic glamour woman at British production company Hammer Film Productions. She starred alongside Christopher Lee in "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" (1966) while also appearing in other hit films including "Rasputin the Mad Monk" and "Quatermass and the Pit."
"She really was Hammer's number one leading lady and the technicolor queen of Hammer," Bowington said. "On screen she could be quietly evil. She goes from statuesque beauty to just animalistic wildness. She was a regular favorite of Hammer events and autograph shows but also performed on stage with the RSC."
By the late 1960s, Shelley's film career had taken a dip, so she turned her attention to TV, which gave her a second boost. Most notably, she appeared in "Doctor Who" in the Planet of Fire story, which featured Peter Davison as the fifth Doctor.
"So very sad to hear of the passing of #BarbaraShelley," tweeted her co-star Nicola Bryant. "A darling person and a talented actress. When we worked together on Planet of Fire she was so kind to me. She gave me a little owl, still in my possession and some good advice. #RIPBarbaraShelley Wise and wonderful lady."