Georgina Cates, former 2point4 Children star and Skeet Ulrich's ex-wife, dies aged 51

Georgina Cates, the English actress remembered as the original Jenny in the BBC sitcom 2point4 Children and as Stella in An Awfully Big Adventure, died on 6 May 2026, aged 51.

The news went unreported for more than five months. It reached wider attention only on Saturday 17 October, when 2point4 Children creator Andrew Marshall posted on X that he had “just discovered” that “our 1st Jenny in 2p4 died last May” (https://ew.com/georgina-cates-dead-clay-pigeons-actress-ex-wife-of-skeet-ulrich-was-51-12182983). The Hollywood Reporter was the first outlet to report the May 6 death (https://people.com/georgina-cates-actress-ex-wife-skeet-ulrich-dies-age-51-12183311).

Her daughter, Naiia, had announced the death weeks earlier with a tribute on Instagram on 11 June, describing Cates as a “beautiful, free-spirited mom” who “lived a hard life and still found ways to make herself and others laugh and smile”. Skeet Ulrich, her former husband, replied: “I love you more than words can say sweetheart” (https://www.geo.tv/latest/687367-georgina-cates-the-british-actress-who-starred-opposite-hugh-grant-and-alan-rickman-in-an-awfully-big-adventure-has-died-at-51-she-died-on-6-may-but-her-death-went-unreported-for-more-than-five-months-it-came-to-wider-attention-after-andrew-marshall).

Born Clare Elaine Woodgate in Essex, Cates was 16 when she originated the role of Jenny in 2point4 Children (https://parade.com/news/georgina-cates-dead-skeet-ulrich-former-wife). Reinventing herself as Georgina Cates won her the role of Stella in 1995’s An Awfully Big Adventure, alongside Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman. She went on to appear in Frankie Starlight and the 1998 comedy Clay Pigeons with Joaquin Phoenix and Vince Vaughn (https://www.geo.tv/latest/687367-georgina-cates-the-british-actress-who-starred-opposite-hugh-grant-and-alan-rickman-in-an-awfully-big-adventure-has-died-at-51-she-died-on-6-may-but-her-death-went-unreported-for-more-than-five-months-it-came-to-wider-attention-after-andrew-marshall).

She was married to Ulrich from 1997 to 2005, and they had twins, Naiia and Jakob, born in 2001. Her last screen credit was Everlasting in 2016 (https://www.geo.tv/latest/687367-georgina-cates-the-british-actress-who-starred-opposite-hugh-grant-and-alan-rickman-in-an-awfully-big-adventure-has-died-at-51-she-died-on-6-may-but-her-death-went-unreported-for-more-than-five-months-it-came-to-wider-attention-after-andrew-marshall).

No cause of death has been made public.