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

Despite her brain being significantly affected by large seizures in recent weeks, Australian actress Catherine Godbold kept her cheery spirit with her up until her death yesterday.

The 'Home and Away' star - known as Cathy - died, aged 43, yesterday afternoon as a result of a terminal brain tumour - more than a decade after she was first diagnosed with cancer.

Close family friend Sally Browne, who visited Cathy daily in the weeks leading up to her death, told 9NEWS the actress would "sit bolt upright and dance" whenever Coldplay CDs were played at her hospital bedside.

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

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

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

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

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

Cathy was first diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2007, after which she had the first of the two brain tumours she would suffer from throughout her life removed, and then underwent chemotherapy 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 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.

"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."

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.

Her death followed 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.

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.

The actress lost her battle almost six months to the day after her mother, Australian TV great Rosemary Margan, also passed away in December last year. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Browne told 9NEWS Cathy's death is being seen as a "really tragic story" because it dates almost six months to the day after the loss of her mother.

"When she was told (the second tumour) was terminal, it was a really tragic situation," she said,

"She was missing her mum and she was in hospital.

"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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