The passing away of Gemma Portelli was announced yesterday, shocking the thousands of Maltese who have been entertained by the veteran actress, whose career spanned over half a century.

Ms Portelli was born in Valletta on 30 September, 1932 and started broadcasting at a young age in radio plays with the then Rediffusion.

In 1957 she joined Radju Muskettieri with Charles Clews and Johnny Catania and other well known contemporaries.

In the sixties she and her husband Paul formed The Bluebirds who produced and presented a children’s programme. In 1976, she was one of the protagonists in the serial F’Bahar Wiehed, a role she would reprise some 30 years later in the role of Goma.

In 1980 she presented a series of comedy programmes, Fuq Tlieta Toqghod il-Borma.

She participated in several productions in Maltese in theatre, radio, TV and cinema and in 2000 was awarded the Midalja Ghall-Qadi Tar-Repubblika.

She was lately also awarded the Charles Arrigo Lifetime Achievement Award.