- Actor was due to recite verses from The Tempest during Danny Boyle's opening ceremony
- Nataasha van Kampen, 28, died of 'natural causes' unexpectedly
By Rob Cooper
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Actor Mark Rylance today withdrew from the Olympic opening ceremony after his stepdaughter died suddenly aged 28.
Nataasha van Kampen, who he described as his 'beloved daughter' died unexpectedly from 'natural causes' last weekend.
The Tony Award-winning actor was due to recite verses from The Tempest during Danny Boyle's 'Isles of Wonder' in three weeks' time.
Nataasha, who was a filmmaker, is the daughter of Rylance's wife Claire van Kampen.
Mark Rylance's stepdaughter Nataasha van Kampen died unexpectedly from 'natural causes'
The family said in a statement: 'Our beloved daughter and sister Nataasha passed away of unsuspected natural causes early on Sunday morning.
'Because of our bereavement, I have decided to withdraw from my commitment to the opening ceremony of the Olympics but Claire and I will continue our work with the productions Richard III and Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe and in the West End.'
Nataasha, a gifted independent filmmaker, started work at 16 for Sky television, and went into production for short films before joining the London Film School.
Her debut Nocturne was shown at the London Young Filmmakers Festival. Splitting her time between New York and London, she described herself as an artist, designer and film-maker, and has worked with The Box club in Soho.
Accomplished: Actor Mark Rylance, who was was due to recite verses from The Tempest during Danny Boyles 'Isles of Wonder' opening ceremony, revealed today he is pulling out after his stepdaughter died suddenly
Grief: Mark Rylance, pictured left playing Vincentio in Measure for Measure, and right as Richard II, today revealed his stepdaughter had died suddenly
Her father is architect Chris van Kampen. Rylance became stepfather to Nataasha and sister Juliet when he married their mother in 1992. The family appealed for privacy today.
Rylance, 52, has won numerous acting awards and was artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, from 1995 to 2005.
In 2010, he won an Olivier Award for Best Actor in the role of Johnny Byron in Jerusalem. The following year he won his second Tony Award for playing the same role on Broadway.
He had previously won a Tony Award for his performance in Boeing, Boeing.
In 1993, he won his first Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portayal of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at the Queen's Theatre.
He is due to star later this month in Richard III and Twelfth Night, where Claire is musical director.
Nataasha had known the actor since she was a three-year-old.
Mark Rylance married Nataasha's mother Claire van Kampen in 1992
very sad, you knew / loved her for most of her life, not too keen on the term "step" but people will know that they are often the better fathers
- gee, sudbury, 06/7/2012 16:16
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