Tributes have been pouring in for the extraordinary actress and Holocaust survivor, Ruth Posner, 96, and her devoted husband, Michael Posner, 97, who mutually chose to end their lives at a Swiss suicide clinic. The couple, residents of Belsize Park, north London, informed their family and friends of their decision via an email sent on Tuesday. Despite neither suffering from terminal illnesses, they explained that after almost 75 years of marriage, they did not wish to be separated, citing "failing senses, of sight and hearing and lack of energy" as reasons that made life feel more like existing than living, a state they believed no amount of care would improve.

In their heartfelt message to 'Dear family and friends,' Ruth and Michael wrote, "So sorry not to have mentioned it but when you receive this email we will have 'shuffled off this mortal coil.' The decision was mutual and without any outside pressure." They reflected on their "interesting and varied life," acknowledging the profound sorrow of losing their son, Jeremy, at the age of 37. "We enjoyed our time together, we tried not to regret the past, live in the present and not to expect too much from the future," they concluded their message with "Much love Ruth & Mike."

Ruth Posner's passing sparked a wave of tributes. The Campaign Against Antisemitism released a statement praising her as "an inspiration and a shining example of how to use one's voice for good in this world." Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of The Holocaust Educational Trust, spoke of Ruth as an "extraordinary woman" who endured unimaginable horrors, including surviving the Radom Ghetto, slave labour, and living in hiding under a false identity. By the end of World War II, Ruth and her aunt were the sole surviving members of her family, with the rest tragically killed at the Treblinka extermination camp.

After a distinguished career in theatre and dance, Ruth, in her eighties, dedicated herself to sharing her testimony as a powerful response to rising antisemitism in the UK. She made it her mission to educate as many young people as possible about her experiences during the Holocaust, hoping that future leaders would learn from the past. Ms. Pollock remembered Ruth as "one of a kind. Full of charisma and warmth, she left an impression on everyone she met. We will miss her."

Ruth's harrowing journey as a Holocaust survivor included using a falsified passport to escape the Warsaw ghetto and posing as a Catholic school student during three years on the run with her aunt. Upon her arrival in the UK at 16, unable to speak English, she swiftly embarked on training as a dancer at the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Later, she pursued acting, studying theatre arts at Hunter College in New York, and subsequently becoming a member of the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company.

Her acting career spanned 80 years, marking her as a star in both film and television. She garnered acclaim for roles in movies such as 'Leon The Pig Farmer' and 'Love Hurts,' and graced the small screen in popular shows like 'Casualty,' 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries,' and, more recently, as Polish princess Katya in the BBC comedy series 'Count Arthur Strong.' Ruth married her British husband Michael in 1950, and his work as a chemist for Unilever and Unicef allowed them to travel the world together.

Friends confirmed the couple's decision was made consciously. Sonja Linden, an artistic director and playwright and a friend of the pair for 30 years, noted Ms. Posner was "frail" and her husband suffered from macular degeneration and poor hearing, yet insisted they remained "intellectually very well" and had no severe illnesses. The couple had initially sought assistance from Zurich's Dignitas clinic, but were refused as their policy requires a doctor's note indicating less than six months to live. Instead, they ended their lives at the Pegasos clinic near Basel. Ruth Posner was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2022 for her invaluable services to Holocaust education. The couple is survived by a grandson.