Family, friends, and fans are mourning the loss of a teenage television actress who passed away on April 7.
Mya-Lecia Naylor, 16, collapsed and suddenly died in London, according to her talent agency A&J Management.
“It is with the deepest sorrow we have to announce that on Sunday 7th April Mya-Lecia Naylor, very sadly, died,” A&J said in a Twitter post dated April 17.
Staff at the agency will miss Naylor “greatly” and would not confirm exactly what caused her death.
“Mya-Lecia was hugely talented and a big part of A&J … our love and thoughts are with all her family and friends at this difficult time,” A&J said.
It is with the deepest sorrow we have to announce that on Sunday 7th April Mya-Lecia Naylor, very sadly, died. Mya-Lecia was hugely talented and a big part of A&J, we will miss her greatly. Our love and thoughts are with all her family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/YhnR7WJSPc
— A&J Management (@aj_management) April 17, 2019
The TV star will still be remembered for her roles in two of the BBC Children’s comedy drama programs on its free-to-air children’s television channel CBBC. Naylor played Fran in Millie Inbetween and Mya in Almost Never. Millie Inbetween tells the story of two sisters whose parents have split up, while Almost Never details the adventures of a fictional boy band and rival girl group led by Naylor called Girls Here First.
“We are so sorry to have to tell you that Mya-Lecia Naylor, who you will know from ‘Millie Inbetween’ and ‘Almost Never,’ has very sadly died,” CBBC said in an Instagram post dated April 17. “We will miss her enormously and we are sure that you will want to join us in sending all our love to her family and friends … we know this news is very upsetting and it may help to share how you are feeling with a friend or an adult you trust.”
BBC Children’s revealed that news of Naylor’s death made her coworkers feel “distraught and so terribly sad.”
“She has shone so brightly on our screens, both in Millie Inbetween and Almost Never, and it’s unthinkable that she won’t be part of our journey going forward,” BBC Children’s Director Alice Webb told the British Broadcasting Corporation, adding the teen was a “real role model for her young fans.”
The team at Millie in Between described Naylor as a “beautiful person inside and out, and so ridiculously talented.”
“We are sad about the passing of such a lovely character and person,” management said in an Instagram post dated April 19.
The team at Almost Never expressed their condolences to Naylor’s loved ones.
“Our thoughts are with Mya-Lecia’s family, friends, and everyone that loved her at this very sad time,” management said in an Instagram post dated April 17. “Rest in peace Mya-Lecia.”
Co-star at Almost Never Emily Atack will remember Naylor as a lovely person.
“She was a beautiful and talented girl, a complete joy to be around on the set of Almost Never,” Atack said in an Instagram post dated April 17. “Sending all my love to her family and friends. Rest in peace beautiful girl.”
Fans have already started paying tributes to their favorite character who had big plans to add singing to her acting with some “amazing projects” expected in the near future.
Millie Inbetween Star Millie Innes said she was devastated to hear the bad news about Naylor and thanked fans for their moral support.
“The pain of her passing has been awful. Mya and I grew up together over the past five years and had an extremely close relationship,” Innes said in an Instagram post dated April 17. “I will always cherish our friendship and the moments we spent together beautiful girl … thank you for all your kind support, It means a lot to me.”
Scriptwriter Paul Rose felt heartbroken when he heard Naylor had passed away.
“I’d been writing scripts for season two of Almost Never since last year, all featuring Mya’s character,” he said in an Instagram post dated April 17. “Far too young, and a huge loss for all on the show, my heart goes out to her family.”
Found out the heartbreaking news last week that Mya-Lecia Naylor has died. I’d been writing scripts for S2 of Almost Never since last year, all featuring Mya’s character. Far too young, and a huge loss for all on the show. My heart goes out to her family. https://t.co/aThaojBOOU
— Paul Rose (@mrbiffo) April 17, 2019