Nyree Dawn Porter, one of Britain’s most glamorous TV and stage stars of the 1960s-’70s who played a pivotal role in the BBC’s landmark TV series “The Forsyte Saga,” died April 11 of unreported causes at a London hospital. She was 61.

Porter starred as the beautiful Irene in the late-1960s’ “Forsyte Saga,” a 26-part series based on the novels of John Galsworthy that became the BBC’s first major worldwide export was remains one of the most celebrated British period dramas ever made. It was first shown in Britain in 1967 and on public television in America in 1969,and earned the distinction of being the first BBC series to be sold to the Soviet Union.Alan Yentob, the BBC’s director of drama, entertainment and children’s programming, noted that “Although she had a considerable career in the theater, she was amongst the first generation of (British) actors to make their name on television. Her performances, most famously in ‘The Forsyte Saga’ and ‘Madame Bovary,’ gripped a generation of viewers.”

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She also starred in 26 episodes of the cult TV series “The Protectors” where she played the aristocratic action heroine Contessa Caroline di Contini opposite Robert Vaughn in the 1970s.

Porter was born on the north island of New Zealand and was given the Maori name of Ngaire, which she later changed to its English phonetic form of “Nyree.”

She is survived by a daughter.

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