Georgina Cates, the actress known for her roles in Clay Pigeons (1998) and several BBC projects, has died. She was 51.
On Saturday, BBC’s 2point4 Children creator Andrew Marshall announced Cates’ passing, years after her breakout role as Jenny Porter on the sitcom when she was 16 years old. She had reportedly died in May, and a cause of death was not immediately made available.
“I’m very sad to report, I have just discovered, that lovely and talented Claire Woodgate aka Georgina Cates, our first Jenny in 2p4 died last May,” wrote Marshall on X. “I have no other details than than on IMDb. Sympathies to her family and children. If anyone has further details to share, please do.”
Marshall’s post comes after Cates and ex-husband Skeet Ulrich’s daughter Naiia announced her mother’s death in June.
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“My beautiful, free-spirited mom lived a hard life and still found ways to make herself and others laugh and smile <3 now she can rest easy,” she wrote on Instagram. “I will always see you in black and white photos, Virginia slims, baggy clothes, no bras, big sunglasses, doodling while talking, pleasers, and flip flops and everything in between.”
Naiia continued, “I love you, thank you for your creativity, curiosity and your bravery to always be true to yourself – no matter what.”
Born Claire Elaine Woodgate on April 4, 1975 in Colchester, Essex, England, Cates broke out in the first two seasons of 2point4, before appearing in such shows as The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, The Bill and Chris Cross, in addition to roles in movies like An Exchange of Fire (1993), Au Pair (1994), An Awfully Big Adventure (1995), Frankie Starlight (1995), Big City Blues (1997) and A Soldier’s Sweetheart (1998).
Also in 1998, Cates earned acclaim for her performance as Amanda in the Ridley Scott-produced Clay Pigeons, also starring Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Pheonix.
In 2007, following a years-long hiatus from acting, Cates won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in Sinner during the 41st Brooklyn Arts Council International Film & Video Festival.
Cates is survived by her children Naiia and Jakob, whom she shared with ex-husband Skeet Ulrich.
