Naya Rivera ‘s fellow Glee co-star Jane Lynch remembered the late actress as ‘a force’.
Jane, 60, who played coach Sue Sylvester in the hit musical show reflected on her co-star’s life in a touching tribute on Today with Hoda & Jenna.
The body of Naya Rivera was found following a five day search after she accidentally drowned in Lake Piru, California.
During the show, which Jane appeared on remotely, the actress spoke fondly of Naya, 33, who tragically died last month.
“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,” Lynch said.
“She was one of those people—she wasn’t in every scene, but when she was…she just blew everybody away.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Jane also recalled how Naya – who played Santana Lopez on the show – had a talent for on-screen work.
Jane told the presenters: “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.”
(Image: FilmMagic)
Even aside from her talents as an actress, Jane admitted that the late star was a force to be reckoned with, as well as an advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
Jane continued: “My niece Megan was very close with Naya, and Megan always said that, with Naya, you felt like somebody had your back.
“She was somebody who wasn’t going to let anybody mess with you.
(Image: FOX via Getty Images)
“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.”
Tributes have flooded in from the showbiz world after Naya’s body was recovered from the Californian lake in late July.
The actress’ young son Josey was found alone in a rowing boat after the pair failed to return the rental vessel to shore.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
After an extensive search of the lake, Naya’s body was found by authorities.
Officers at the time said that Naya had mustered enough strength to save her son before being taken beneath the water.
Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said, “She mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
(Image: Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Jane’s touching tribute came shortly after actress Heather Morris also tearfully opened up about the loss of her friend.
Heather, 33, who played Naya’s love interest on Glee, broke down in the emotional video as she shared her grief with loyal fans.
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