Georgina Cates, a British actress recognized for her performances in several films during the 1990s and 2000s, passed away at 51. Her daughter Naiia announced the death weeks after it occurred in May, describing her mother as “beautiful” and “free-spirited” in an Instagram post. Cates is survived by her daughter and twin brother Jakob, born in 2001.
Cates gained prominence for her lead role in the 1995 coming-of-age film An Awfully Big Adventure, directed by Mike Newell and based on Beryl Bainbridge’s novel. In the film, she portrayed Stella Bradshaw, a young woman who takes a job at a Liverpool repertory theater and becomes romantically involved with the theater’s director, played by Hugh Grant. The film also featured Alan Rickman in a supporting role. The actress subsequently appeared in the 1998 black comedy Clay Pigeons alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Vince Vaughn, playing a central role as a woman involved in an affair.
Born Clare Elaine Woodgate on April 4, 1975, in Colchester, Essex, she initially worked under her birth name as an actress on the BBC sitcom 2point4 Children. After being initially rejected for the role in An Awfully Big Adventure, she auditioned again under the stage name Cates, adopting a Liverpool accent, dyeing her hair red, and creating a working-class persona to secure the part. Director Newell later acknowledged being initially deceived but recognized the value of her commitment to the role.
Cates married American actor Skeet Ulrich, known for films including Scream and the television series Riverdale, in 1997. The couple divorced in 2005. Beyond her film work in the 1990s and 2000s, which included titles such as Frankie Starlight, Illuminata, and Jackass: Bad Grandpa, Cates later transitioned to work as a photographer.
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