Renowned Maltese actress Marylu Coppini passed away on Christmas Eve at Mater Dei Hospital following a short illness. She was 76.

Born in 1949, Coppini began her acting career at an early age, appearing at just 13 in the children's film Treasure in Malta, released in 1963. That early role marked the beginning of a career spanning more than six decades across theatre, television, and film.

Widely regarded as one of Malta's most prolific and versatile stage performers, Coppini became a familiar presence in the local performing arts scene. She appeared in numerous theatre productions, performing lead roles in works by Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Molière, including She Stoops to Conquer, The Cherry Orchard, Tartuffe, and Glorious. Her final stage appearance came in 2020, when she portrayed Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest.

In addition to her stage work, Coppini was a well-known face on Maltese television, regularly appearing in popular series such as Santa Monica, Villa Sunset, and L-Erba L'Huma. Her performance in the latter earned her a Malta Television Award in 2006. She also appeared in the recent Maltese film Żafżifa, released earlier this year.

Beyond acting, Coppini was deeply involved in theatre leadership and direction from the late 1980s onwards. She served for several years as artistic director of the Malta Amateur Dramatic Club (MADC) and directed numerous productions, including South Pacific, Private Lives, The Comedy of Errors, Charlie's Aunt, The Merchant of Venice, as well as pantomimes such as Rapunzel and Beauty and the Beast.

Her contribution to theatre was recognised with multiple Best Actress awards from the MADC.

Marylu Coppini is survived by her husband and two daughters, both of whom have followed her into the performing arts.