Blackman broke through in the 1960s in the spy series The Avengers in which she played the leather-clad anthropologist Cathy Gale.

She is also known for the role of Pussy Galore in the Bond film Goldfinger and starred in stage performances such as The sound of music, My fair lady and Cabaret.

“She died peacefully for natural reasons in her home, surrounded by her family. She was much loved and will be missed dearly by her two children Barnaby and Lottie and by grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby, ”said Blackman's relatives in a statement.