Bulgaria's 'world's oldest performing actress' dies age 97

Bulgarian "comedy queen" Stoyanka Mutafova, who was also one of the world's oldest performing actresses, has died aged 97, her family announced Friday.

Mutafova's career - in various Bulgarian theatres and in a number of movies and TV series - spanned more than 60 years.

At the age of 94, she embarked on a tour of theatres in North America and Europe.

She regularly performed on stage up until July 2019 in her signature "Madam Disaster" play, making spectators laugh with her liveliness, sense of humour and undaunted spirit.

"I am never tired of playing (...) I live for the theatre," Mutafova said in her latest autobiography, which was out in 2017.

Bulgaria's parliament observed a minute of silence in her memory Friday as saddened spectators paid tribute to her on the social media, sharing pictures and some of her most memorable jokes.