Hollywood ‘goddess’ Lauren Bacall dies aged 89

Tinsletown paid tribute to the sultry screen legend, famous for her appearances as a femme fatale in film noir titles, as news that the 89-year-old had passed away in New York spread across the globe.

The actress, hailed a ‘goddess of Hollywood’s golden age’, is perhaps best-known for her role opposite husband Humphrey Bogart in 1946 classic The Big Sleep and for her unmistakable husky voice.

Fellow A-listers, many of whom were still in shock over the death of actor Robin Williams, aged 63, earlier this week, led the outpourings of grief.

Singer and actress Barbara Streisand, who played Bacall’s daughter in The Mirror Has Two Faces, said: “First Robin, who was a genius, and now Lauren. It was my privilege to have known her, to have acted with her, and to have directed her. And, most of all, to have had her as a wise and loving friend.

“She was an original. Even with all those great films we can visit again and again, she will be missed.”

Bradford West MP George Galloway took to Twitter to pay tribute to the star.

He wrote: “Long will live the memory of Lauren Bacall...A legend and rebel.

The Academy-Award nominated actress received two Tonys, an honorary Oscar which came in 2009, and scores of film and TV roles. But, to her occasional frustration, she was remembered for her years with Bogart. He was 23 years her senior when they wed in 1945. They remained together until his death from cancer in 1957.