Zienia Merton dead at 72

Space: 1999 actress Zienia Merton has died at the age of 72.
Born in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1945 to a half-English, half-French father and a Burmese mother, Zienia found fame as data analyst Sandra Benes in the hit 1970s British science-fiction TV show.
A tweet posted on the official account of the firm of Space: 1999’s creator, the late Gerry Anderson, on Friday (14Sep18), announced the news she had passed away.
“We’re very sorry to announce the passing of Zienia Merton who played Sandra Benes in Space:1999,” the tweet read. “The news was confirmed by her agent this morning. Everyone at Anderson Entertainment sends their thoughts and condolences to Zienia’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Her cause of death has not been announced.
Following her role in the beloved sci-fi series, which ran from 1975 to 1977 and also starred Martin Landau, Zienia carved out a career playing small roles in numerous British TV dramas, Grange Hill, Return of the Saint, Bergerac, Lovejoy, Dinotopia, Casualty, EastEnders, The Bill, and Coronation Street.
In film, she played a high priestess in the Beatles’ film Help! and also appeared alongside Gregory Peck in The Adventurers.
Her first role came in Doctor Who in 1964, in the now lost seven-part story Marco Polo. She returned to the franchise 45 years later, playing a wedding registrar in a 2009 two-part episode of spin-off show The Sarah Jane Adventures.