The actor Lynn Dalby, who found fame as Adam Faith's on-screen girlfriend in the popular 1970s television drama Budgie, has died at the age of 78. She passed away from the lung condition COPD.
From Budgie to the Dales: A Television Career
Dalby's most iconic role was as Hazel Fletcher, the long-suffering girlfriend of petty criminal Ronald 'Budgie' Bird, played by Adam Faith. The show ran for two series on ITV from 1971 to 1972. Her character, a jobbing actress, navigated a turbulent relationship with Budgie as he stumbled through ill-fated schemes, often orchestrated by strip club owner Charlie Endell (Iain Cuthbertson).
Dalby herself expressed a deep understanding of Hazel's motivations. She once explained that her character sought security and remained with Budgie simply because he was all she had, a sentiment she could empathise with.
In 1972, she joined the cast of the newly launched soap opera Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale). She played Ruth Merrick, a woman hiding a devastating secret: her son was not fathered by her husband, Tom, but by her former lover, Jack Sugden. Her tenure in the Yorkshire Dales included two stints in 1972 and 1974, featuring dramatic storylines including a suicide attempt.
Stage, Screen and a Move Down Under
Born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on 17 February 1947, Lynn Margaret Dalby trained at the Corona Academy in London from age 12. Her early career included uncredited film roles and work in repertory theatre, leading to performances in West End musicals. She played Chava in Fiddler on the Roof at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1970.
Her television work was extensive. Before Budgie, she appeared in the BBC sitcom The Gnomes of Dulwich (1969). Later roles included parts in Return of the Saint (1979), the thriller Breakaway (1980), and a memorable stint on Crossroads as secretary Rita Hughes (1980-81).
After marrying actor Ray Lonnen in 1977 (they divorced in 1983), Dalby emigrated to Sydney, Australia, in 1984. She continued acting there, appearing in the mini-series Tusitala (1986), the soap Sons and Daughters (1987), and popular dramas like Water Rats and All Saints. She returned to the UK in 2019.
A Lasting Legacy
Lynn Dalby's career spanned five decades, encompassing classic British television, West End theatre, and Australian TV. She is survived by her daughter, Amy, from her marriage to Ray Lonnen, and her two sisters, Lesley and Gillian. Her portrayal of the loyal Hazel in Budgie remains a cherished part of British television history, capturing the spirit of early 1970s drama.
