Mrs Carte, 63, whose stage name was Lizzie Edmiston, had appeared in productions ranging from musicals to comedy shows.

Life-long friend and colleague, actor Simon Williams, has paid tribute to a much loved friend who he has known for more than 35 years.

Mrs Carte, who suffered from poor health, had been asked to perform in a comedy production, along with her actor husband Eric, on board the cruiseliner.

But as the Oriana sailed from Capetown to Southampton Mrs Carte collapsed during a performance on April 5.

After remaining aboard the ship, and in a coma for five days, she died on April 10.

A message left on her blog by husband Eric read: "Hello darlings, I am sorry to say our darling girl left us this morning at six, though she really went backstage on Saturday in naughty underwear, gold shoes and on top of the world.

"I think she fought so long to make sure she could sail home in style rather than be offloaded in the Canaries, and all that would entail."

Mrs Carte enjoyed a life-time in the theatre, which included acting and singing alongside Barbara Streisand in the West-End musical Funny Girl.

Mr Williams said: "She went doing what she loved doing and the audience always loved her.

"She had been in poor health recently but unlike so many people, she always kept up this dazzling sense of humour and she has a huge amount of friends in Chearsley and also in the bigger neighbourhood of showbusiness.

"She was such a loved person because she had a very good judgement and you always wanted her opinion.

"Eric has been one of my closest friends and I have known him for about 40 years.

"I met Lizzie when she was Eric's girlfriend and I think he was toying with the idea of marrying her and I said if you don't marry her, I'll shoot you.

"They have been a wonderful couple.

"She had diabetes at an early age which limited her capabilities a bit, but there's no question she would have been a huge star - right up there with Judy Dench.

"Lizzie had a magical quality of perfect timings and as an actress, a great truth.

"Quite often, performers don't have timing and truth but she had both of those things."

Her performances in the 1970's comedy series, Now Take My Wife alongside actress Sheila Hancock brought her to the attention of critics as a rising star.

Mr Williams said she was particularly good at playing comedy because she was a naturally funny and witty person.

During her teenage years, she trained as a professional ballet dancer but when diagnosed with diabetes, she had to abandon her plans as a ballet dancer.

Friend and neighbour, Klinko Kingsbury said: "We had known her for 20 years and they lived right in the middle of the village.

"They were a popular couple and regularly opened the village fete.

"She was one of those people who was so very good with others.

"She was going back to work at the Mill at Sonning after she returned from the cruise. She was such a lively dynamo of a person and she was such great fun."

Mr Carte, who returns from Southampton today said he plans a Humanist ceremony at the Oxford crematorium for Mrs Carte.

You can pay tribute to Mrs Carte on this website.

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