Young actress Nikki Sam-Addae killed herself after death of her fiance

Mar 11 2010 By Emma Davison

A YOUNG actress hanged herself months after her soulmate and fiance lost his battle against cancer.

Talented Nikki Sam-Addae, from Dalton, had dreams of travelling and aspiring others into the profession she loved so much.

But an inquest heard the 23-year-old was left shattered when her finance Luke Evans was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

When he lost his brave battle 12 months later, Nikki, who was set for stardom after signing to a London talent agency, spiralled into depression.

She was found dead in woodland off Wakefield Road, Waterloo on August 17 last year, just seven months after his death.

Her devastated mum Kathryn Dhurmea said in a statement read at the Huddersfield inquest yesterday: “She was a talented young woman who fell in love and lost her soulmate too soon and couldn’t cope.”

The inquest heard that Nikki, who had four brothers and sisters, knew from an early age that she wanted to be an actress.

Mrs Dhurmea said: “She was an outgoing person who made friends easily, a happy child who would sing and dance, putting on shows for the family.

“The only thing she wanted to do was become an actress when she grew up and she worked very hard at school.”

Dedicated Nikki, described as a ‘perfectionist’ in her work, attended Greenhead College and appeared in college productions.

In 2005 Nikki, who also performed with the Halifax Thespians, began an acting degree at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

It was there she met the love of her life, Welshman Luke, who was also an aspiring actor.

Mrs Dhurmea said: “She fell in love with Luke, he was her soulmate.

“They made plans to travel after university and teach acting, she was very happy.”

But tragedy struck the young couple when Luke started having problems with his eyes and in January 2008 was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He spent the last year of his life in hospital and Nikki put her degree on hold so she could be at his bedside every day.