Glee star Jane Lynch has paid tribute to Naya Rivera in a touching interview.
The actress’ body was found following a five day search last month, after she accidentally drowned in Lake Piru, in Southern California.
The 60-year-old, who played Sue Sylvester in the hit series, described Naya as a “force” in a touching tribute on Today with Hoda & Jenna.
“She was a force of nature and it’s just gut-wrenching and heartbreaking that she is gone,” she said.
As @janemarielynch fills in for Hoda as guest co-host with Jenna, she remembers her late “Glee” co-star Naya Rivera with a moving tribute, saying she was a great advocate and a force of nature. pic.twitter.com/Z479g9L1fX
— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) August 12, 2020
“I think that one of the things that kind of got lost when we were doing the show was what a force she was because there were so many talented people,” she continued.
“She was one of those people—she wasn’t in every scene, but when she was… she just blew everybody away.”
Jane explained: “I had three-page monologues, so did she. It took me a week to get mine.”
“She would do them right off the bat and they would be changing them and she had no problem with it.”
Jane also praised Naya, who played Santana Lopez in the series, for being an advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
“My niece Megan was very close with Naya, and Megan always said that, with Naya, you felt like somebody had your back,” she said. “She was somebody who wasn’t going to let anybody mess with you.”
“She was a great advocate and loved the fact that she and Heather Morris had the lesbian relationship on the show and how much that meant to so many young people.”
On the latest episode of Goss Chats, Goss.ie Founder & CEO Ali Ryan sits down with beauty guru Mark Rogers.
From his upcoming wedding to surrogacy plans, Mark opens up about a hectic few months ahead.
#GossChats is sponsored by top Irish aesthetic clinic Haus of JeJuve.