'Home and Away' star Catherine Godbold dies age 43 after decade-long brain cancer battle

Australian actress Catherine Godbold has died, aged 43, more than a decade after she was first diagnosed with brain cancer.

The 'Home and Away' star's family confirmed to 9NEWS that Godbold, who was known as 'Cathy', lost her battle with the disease on Friday afternoon.

Australian actress Catherine 'Cathy' Godbold has died aged 43. Picture: Supplied.

Following her diagnosis in July 2007, the actress had the first of two brain tumours she would suffer from throughout her life removed and underwent radiotherapy treatment at Melbourne Hospital.

She was unable to work for multiple years due to the illness.

At the time, aged 32, Cathy said the diagnosis came as a shock but was confident of overcoming the disease.

Cathy lost her battle with brain cancer on Friday, more than a decade after she was first diagnosed with the disease. Picture: Supplied.

"It was a terrible shock to find out I was ill," she said.

"Because I am young and healthy I have a much better chance of beating it.

"I am fighting this... I want to get healthy and get back to work as soon as possible."

Her death follows a second diagnosis of another brain tumour in January this year that she was told would be terminal.

It also comes just months after her mother, Australian television giant Rosemary Margan, also died on the Gold Coast in December last year at the age of 80.

Cathy was most popularly known for her roles in a string of Australian television shows such as 'Home and Away', 'The Saddle Club' and 'Blue Heelers'. Picture: Facebook.

Rosemary, a champion water skier and three-time Logie winner, was also diagnosed with cancer 17 years prior to her death.

Memorably, Cathy portrayed her mother in the television film 'The King' - which was based on the life of Australian TV great Graham Kennedy.

Close family friend Sally Browne told 9NEWS Cathy's death is a "really tragic story" because it dates almost six months to the day after the loss of her mother.

"Cathy was a wonderful, young woman and a very talented young actress," she said.

The actress suffered two brain tumours in the past decade, with the latter being terminal - however Cathy would still dance to Coldplay CDs played at her hospital bedside. Picture: Facebook.

"When she was told (the second tumour) was terminal, it was a really tragic situation - she was missing her mum and she was in hospital.

"But like all brain tumours, it eventually took over and it was just a tragic, tragic end."

Ms Browne, who went to visit Cathy daily in hospital in the weeks leading up to her death, said the actress suffered a seizure in recent weeks that left her brain significantly affected.

Despite that, she told 9NEWS that the actress would still "sit bolt upright and danced" whenever a Coldplay CD was played at her bedside.

"We also had her scrapbooks there and were reading to her - so there were some beautiful, poignant moments as well," she said.

"It's always sad when someone that young loses a battle.

"If there's any god, she'll be back in the arms of her mother - that would be a happy ending."

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