She was in EastEnders from 1985 to 1989 but tragically died after battling lung conditions — and her former partner was separately convicted of murdering two women
She left the role in 1989(Image: BBC)
She was amongst the BBC soap’s most recognisable faces, portraying Sue Osman for four years, yet her real-life experiences proved far more turbulent than those of her on-screen persona.
Sandy Ratcliff tragically passed away in April 2019 following an excessive intake of morphine while struggling with two terminal lung conditions. It marked a heartbreaking conclusion for a gifted actress who had also endured a 20-year struggle with heroin addiction, the BBC reports.
From being a screen star and her earlier career as a model, it appeared inconceivable that a life in the spotlight would bring such upheaval for one individual, yet she endured sufficient difficult episodes to leave lasting scars on anyone.
Between 1985 and 1989, Ratcliff featured in EastEnders as Sue Osman, the long-suffering spouse of cafe proprietor and mini-cab operator Ali Osman. Throughout her stint in the soap, her character confronted hard-hitting storylines including cot death, infidelity and, during her final episodes, a mental breakdown.
Meanwhile, in her personal life, Ratcliff was grappling with a heroin addiction which had become publicly known and ultimately led to her departure from the soap in 1989.
However, even prior to her devastating exit from the BBC soap, Ratcliff had already encountered considerable hardship before achieving fame.
Even during childhood, it was evident the actress experienced a troubled upbringing after being expelled from school aged 12 and having reportedly smoked cannabis heavily as a young teenager.
Prior to her appearance on the show, Ratcliff had served time behind bars for drug dealing, and her battle with alcohol and substance abuse proved problematic from the very start on set, according to The Scotsman.
In a bid to remove her from the programme, once her heroin addiction became public knowledge, writers scripted her character out via a nervous breakdown.
The storyline unfolded in the series after her estranged husband took custody of her child, resulting in the character being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, never to return to our screens.
Following her departure, the star found herself back in the headlines, though this time it had nothing to do with her drug use, but rather her boyfriend’s alleged criminal activity. Her then-partner Michael Shorey faced trial at the Old Bailey, accused of killing two women, with Ratcliff providing him with an alibi.
Taking to the witness box, she claimed that at the time of the brutal crime, the pair had been together, engaged in a sexual encounter. However, her testimony wasn’t sufficient to spare him from conviction, as he was subsequently found guilty and is currently serving two life sentences for murder.
As the years passed, it appeared the former model had conquered her heroin addiction, reinventing herself as a mechanic and ambulance driver, while also training as a counsellor. Later reports, however, revealed she had been living on a disability allowance.
Tragically, Ratcliff was diagnosed with two types of cancer in the period before her death, during which she endured three strokes, her son disclosed. Though her death at 70 resulted from a combination of the morphine she was administered and the cancerous illness.
Coroner Mary Hassell delivered her conclusion regarding Ratcliffe’s death at the inquest, following her passing.
She stated: “I don’t think the morphine was used to end her life. She was using it as she had used drugs for many years. She died from a combination of two naturally occurring terminal conditions and an excess of morphine.”
