#SHOWBIZ: Penang-born actress Pik-Sen Lim of 'Mind Your Language' fame dies at 80
KUALA LUMPUR: Penang-born actress Lim Pik-Sen, best known for her role as Chung Su-Lee in the popular British sitcom Mind Your Language, has passed away. She was 80.
Pik-Sen rose to prominence in the late 1970s as the Chinese student character which became one of the most familiar faces on British television, and was well-known in both the UK and Malaysia.
Pik-Sen, the daughter of businessman Lim Cheng Teik, died on Monday, as confirmed by tributes shared by friends and colleagues.
Actor Daniel York, who collaborated with her on stage and in audio dramas, fondly remembered her on Facebook: "She was a joy – full of love, laughter, and mischief. Her gift for comedy made you feel safe on stage. That unique voice and bold energy carried us all."
He added, "We've shared the same agent for over 25 years. She'll be deeply missed."
Fans of Mind Your Language also paid their respects on a dedicated Facebook group boasting more than 675,000 members.
"She was the greatest follower of Chairman Mao," joked actor Rafsan Tahmid, referencing one of Su-Lee's iconic lines from the show.
The British Film Institute once described Pik-Sen as "the most recognisable Chinese actor on British television throughout the 1970s and 1980s."
Before her sitcom fame, Pik-Sen had already made significant inroads on British television.
In the 1960s, she played Nurse Kwei in Emergency Ward 10, one of Britain's earliest medical dramas.
Her role as a fluent English-speaking Chinese nurse who falls in love with a doctor was considered pioneering at the time.
Her other credits include an appearance in Doctor Who as Chin Lee in "The Mind of Evil" (1971), the military drama Spearhead, and popular shows like Coronation Street, Casualty, Holby City, and The Bill.
On the big screen, she showcased her versatility in the 2011 film Johnny English Reborn, where she portrayed the formidable Killer Cleaner.
In more recent years, Lim's distinctive voice graced the Dark Souls video game series as narrator.
She also appeared in American TV productions such as Vampire Academy (2022) and The Nevers (2023).
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