KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Award-winning actress Azean Irdawaty Yusoef has died at the age of 63 after an eight-year battle with cancer.

She breathed her last at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre at 7.29pm tonight, said Faizal Mustaffa, her son’s Benjy manager, when contacted.

Azean started her career as a singer in 1970s before she found stardom in films, television serials and theatre.

She starred in a number of movies, including “Waris Jari Hantu”, “Layar Lara” and “Esok Masih Ada”.

She won the Seri Angkasa Award for best drama actress four times in 1975 (for her part in “Kelahiran”), 1980, 1990 and 1996.

Her last accolade was best supporting actress at the Malaysian Film Festival in 2008 for her film role in “Waris Jaris Hantu”.

She is survived by her husband, Khairil Anwar Z.M Rashidi and three children, Khaeryll Benjamin (Benjy), Inessa Irdayanty and Elza Irdalynna.

Meanwhile, Azean Irdawaty remains were taken to her residence in Bandar Utama, Sri Petaling near here for burial tomorrow.

Among those present at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre mortuary were film director Datuk Shuhaimi Baba, actor Rusdi Ramli and actress Nanu Baharuddin.

Meanwhile, Faizal said Azean Irdawaty was admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre on December 9 after complaining of breathing difficulties.

He said the actress’ family members were at her bedside when she died.

“Yesterday, Azean expressed her wish to watch the movies that she had starred in to Benjy.

“Benjy fulfilled her mother’s wish by playing excerpts from the movies taken from YouTube on his laptop, much to her delight.

“She fell unconscious at midnight last night and never regain her composure,” said Faizal. — Bernama