Director Claire van Kampen dies on husband Mark Rylance's birthday

Director Claire van Kampen has died, aged 71, on the 65th birthday of her husband, Sir Mark Rylance.

She died in the German town of Kassel on Saturday morning after being diagnosed with cancer.

A statement, shared on behalf of Sir Mark and her daughter Juliet, described her as "one of the funniest and (most) inspiring women we have ever known".

It added: "We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love.

"Ring the bell, sound the trumpets reverie, something is done, something is beginning. One of the great wise ones has passed."

Van Kampen was a concert pianist, composer, playwright, theatre director and worked in various roles at Shakespeare's Globe for around two decades.

She wrote and performed for theatre, radio, television and film soundtracks, and was the first female musical director for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Van Kampen was previously married to architect Christopher van Kampen, with whom she had two daughters Juliet and Nataasha.

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Her youngest daughter Nataasha, a filmmaker, died aged 28 in 2012 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

She met her husband, Sir Mark, through the National Theatre, when she was the musical director of a play he was in.

(c) Sky News 2025: Director Claire van Kampen dies on husband Mark Rylance's birthday