Jean Simmons, the Hollywood star who first entranced cinema-goers with her portrayal of young Estella in David Lean’s Great Expectations, has died.

She starred with Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry, with Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls, with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus, Gregory Peck in The Big Country and Paul Newman in Until They Sail.

She was nominated for an Oscar at the age of just 18 for her role as Ophelia to Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet.

Harold Pinter, CBE, the leading playwrite of his generation died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was a poet, actor, director, dramatist, screenwriter, humanitarian and 2005 winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. I was fortunate enough to see him perform his work on stage but never had the opportunity to meet this truly great man. His work influenced the entire world and will live on as long as the human spirit does. There is little more to say.