A statement from Associated International Management said she had passed away peacefully on Monday at home with her daughter Helena by her side.
The 74-year-old was best known for her role in ITV’s Emmerdale as Edna Birch, which she played for the last 15 years.
ITV executive producer, John Whiston, said: “The family here at Emmerdale are deeply saddened by Shirley’s passing, it is hard to imagine Emmerdale without her.
“We offer our condolences to Shirley’s family and share our feeling of loss with the millions of viewers who will miss Edna enormously.”
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