Esta TerBlanche, a star on soap All My Children, died Thursday at her North Hollywood home at age 51. No cause has been established, and authorities believe she had been dead for about a day.
TerBlanche played princess Gillian Andrassy Lavery on the ABC show from 1997-2001.
She was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991, then launched an acting career.
Her publicist, Lisa Rodrigo, posted the news on Facebook.
“I can not believe I am posting this. It’s with a heavy heart that my friend and client Esta TerBlanche passed away Thursday of natural causes. An autopsy report is pending. I am still processing and in shock. Esta TerBlanche was a beautiful soul in and out. I was proud to know her and work with her. More to come in the days ahead. Thank you for the messages so far. If I haven’t gotten to you, I will soon.
“May she RIP with the angels that she is.”
Born on January 7, 1973, TerBlanche hailed from the North West province of South Africa. After was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991, then starred on the popular drama Egoli: Place of Gold, where she played the role of Bienkie Naudé Hartman from 1992-95.
She left that show and moved to the U.S. to pursue her acting career, landing her All My Children role two year later.
On the soap, TerBlanche played Gillian, a headstrong Hungarian princess and cousin of Dimitri Marick. She was intrigued by Cameron Mathison’s character, Ryan Lavery, and the couple married.
After Gillian’s death on the show in 2001, TerBlanche returned to South Africa. She opened a spa and worked on multiple documentaries with filmmaker Michael Kastenbaum. She also hosted several TV shows.
At the time of TerBlanche’s death, she was splitting her time between South Africa and California.
She is survived by her ex-husband; and goddaughter, Barbie Ashley.