Eileen Pollock: Bread’s Lilo Lill and star of films including Far And Away and Angela’s Ashes dies aged 73

Tributes are being paid to “powerhouse” actress Eileen Pollock, who was best known for playing Lilo Lill in 1980s sitcom Bread, following her death at the age of 73.

Her agents ANA Actors confirmed the news, saying the actress died peacefully in her sleep at home in London on Saturday.

Born in Belfast, Pollock was a star of stage and screen who appeared in films including Far And Away in 1992, alongside Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and Angela’s Ashes in 1999.

Having been part of ANA for many years, she was deeply involved in our community, helping to spot new talent and always stopping by Lambeth Walk for a chat and a cup fo tea (usually with a generous load of sweet treats for everyone!) pic.twitter.com/Z1uGkvqW3L

— ANA (@anaactors) December 21, 2020

But she was best known for playing “tart” Lilo Lill, mistress of Freddie Boswell, in Bread, the TV comedy that centred around the working class Boswell family in Liverpool, which ran from 1986 to 1991.

Paying tribute on Twitter and sharing photos of the actress, who was known as Polly to her friends, ANA described Pollock as “a hugely loved and well known talent of stage and screen both here and in Ireland”.

She was an actress who had worked with some of the biggest names in film, such as Ron Howard and Mike Leigh, they said, but who would “most famously be remembered for making us all chuckle as series regular Lilo Lill in Bread”.

The agency’s tribute continued by saying the actress had been “deeply involved in our community, helping to spot new talent” and was always stopping by their office in Lambeth Walk “for a chat and a cup of tea”.

“We send our love to all who knew Polly – she was truly a powerhouse of an actor, with huge generosity and spirit. We will miss our dear friend and will always remember her as our wonderful, witty, brilliant, Belfast girl!”

As well as Bread and her film roles, Pollock’s other acting credits included appearances in The Bill and Taggart, according to TV and film database website IMDB. Most recently she played a dinner lady in the 2019 film, Love Type D.