Former Neighbours star Miranda Fryer has died at the age of 34.

The actress, who portrayed Sky Mangel on the soap when she was just 18 months old, died in her sleep.

Fryer married Arthur Pothitis in 2020 and had been looking forward to starting a family.

‘True soulmates, Miranda and Arthur were making plans to start their family, when one day last week she went to sleep and never woke up,’ her family told TV Tonight in a statement.

‘We do not know why.

‘She had had some health issues with her heart. Maybe her beautiful persona was just too good for this world of ours.

‘We, who all loved her so much, shall treasure the memories she has left us with and mourn our loss forever.

‘A beautiful child, stunning teenager, beautiful inside, and out… a woman, with so much love and happiness given and received. So many friends, so much still to offer this world, gone.’

Miranda played Sky between 1989 and 1991, and was the first child star contracted to the serial drama.

She did not pursue acting after her role on Neighbours.

Fryer had completed a degree in nursing and was due to start a postgraduate role at Monash Hospital in the neuroscience department.

‘She was the most wonderful daughter,’ her mother Traci Hunter told the Herald Sun. ‘She had so much love and passion for life.

‘She was a truly kind, loving person, almost too good to be true … Miranda was adored by everyone.

‘She just went to sleep and did not wake up. It is a terrible shock to us all.’

Neighbours’ former casting director Jan Russ said: ‘I feel so very sad to lose one of my cast and especially one so young as Miranda who spent her very young years on the show.

‘I love them like my own and feel the loss when they pass.’

Sky Mangel returned to Neighbours in 2003, with actress Stephanie McIntosh taking over the role. Stephanie would play the character until 2007 before departing, but she later returned for stints in 2015 and again in 2020, as part of the programme’s 35th anniversary.

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