All My Children star Esta TerBlanche dead at 51

South African actress Esta TerBlanche has been found dead in her Los Angeles home aged 51.

The soap star, best known for her role in All My Children, died on Thursday, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

A finding on her cause of death has been deferred pending an investigation.

TerBlanche’s goddaughter Barbie Ashely confirmed the news to TMZ before the actress’s publicist Lisa Rodrigo released a statement on Facebook.

“I cannot believe I am posting this. It’s with a heavy heart that my friend and client Esta TerBlanche passed away Thursday of natural causes,” Rodrigo said.

“An autopsy report is pending. I am still processing and in shock. Esta was a beautiful soul in and out.”

“I was proud to know her and work with her. More to come in the days ahead.”

TerBlanche’s manager Annie Spoliansky released a statement to CNN: “Esta was such a kind, loving, giving, and caring person.”

“She cared so deeply for all people and animals.

“Esta was never anything but generous and lovely to me, and I’m grateful to have known her for the time that I did, and devastated to learn of her passing.”

Cameron Mathison, who played TerBlanche’s on-screen husband Ryan Lavery in All My Children took to his Instagram stories to react to the news.

“RIP my sweet princess,” he said, calling her “one of the sweetest people ever”.

TerBlanche was best known for her role as the troublesome Hungarian princess Gillian Andrassy Lavery in the ABC soap opera All My Children from 1997 to 2001.

Born in South Africa, TerBlanche was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991.

She began her soap opera career with the local production of Egoli: Place of Gold from 1992 to 1995.

Two years later, she moved to the US where she landed the role on All My Children.

Recently, the actress was splitting her time between South Africa and the US.