South African-born beauty Esta TerBlanche, best known for her turn as Gillian Andrassy in ABC’s All My Children, has passed away. She was 51.

Esta TerBlanche, Rest In Peace

TerBlanche’s goddaughter, Barbie Ashley, told TMZ that the actress died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 18 (2024) in her North Hollywood home. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Lisa Rodrigo, TerBlanche’s publicist said in a statement: “She was and always will be a beautiful soul who I will miss every day. I am proud to have known her and call her not only a client but a friend.”

TerBlanche’s career was jumpstarted following her crowning as Miss Teen South Africa in 1991. Subsequently, she starred as Beatrice “Biennia” Maude Hartman in the South African soapie Egoli: Place of Gold from its inception until 1995 (with a guest spot 2004).

The City of Angels called, then so too did the Big Apple. While making the rounds in the latter, TerBlanche was cast as AMC’s Gillian, a bona fide, scandal-prone Hungarian princess. Thoroughly captivating on her own, Gillian’s profile was further elevated once paired with Cameron Mathison’s Ryan Lavery.

Gillian met an ultimately tragic, untimely end, though TerBlanche did briefly reprise the part as the sudser wound down its four-decade-plus run. Her scenes, naturally, were opposite Mathison.

Mathison honored TerBlanche on Sunday via his Instagram Stories. In the first he penned, “RIP my sweet princess,” across a photo of the two of them. In the second he added: Esta helped me last year when [my dog] Red was sick and paralyzed and I was struggling. One of the sweetest people ever.”

TerBlanche’s other credits include stints in The Syndicate and Spin City, a leading role in the flick Three Thieves and a Wedding, and serving as hostess for the environmental program 50/50 and the children’s show, K-T.V.

She is survived by her aforementioned goddaughter and ex-husband André Kock.