Eastenders legend Sylvia Sims left huge amount in her will after dying aged 89 last year
EASTENDERS legend Sylvia Syms left a huge amount in her will – including donations for acting schools and paintings for close pals.
The stage and screen icon, who died last January aged 89, bequeathed most of her estate to her two children, probate documents reveal.
The £1.43million sum included £5,000 donations to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art school – one of the country’s most prestigious acting colleges, and £2k each to Intermission and Age UK.
Close friend and adviser Peter Stephens and other pals chosen by her family were also offered the chance to pick a painting from her personal collection.
She handed over the rest, including her property, to kids Ben and Beatie – who took after her mum as a TV actress.
Sylvia was best known for playing Peggy Mitchell’s pal Olive Woodhouse in Albert Square from 2007 to 2010.
She also starred as The Queen Mother alongside Helen Mirren in the Oscar-winning 2006 royal flick The Queen.
In a six-decade career, she featured in more than 120 film, TV and theatre productions, retiring in 2019 at the age of 84.
The actress was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in The Tamarind Seed with Julie Andrews, and got an MBE gong at Buckingham Palace in 2007.
Other roles came in Doctor Who, Casualty, Holby City and in BBC daytime soap Doctors, where she played three different characters.
Her final TV appearance was in BBC historical drama Gentleman Jack in 2019, where she played elderly mum Mrs Rawson.
She spent her final months at at Denville Hall, a care home in London for entertainment stars.
After her death, the star’s two children led tributes, writing: “She has lived an amazing life and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end.
“Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed.”
An EastEnders spokesman added: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Sylvia Syms has passed away.
“Our love and thoughts are with Sylvia’s family and friends.”