Retro fans of the hit US action-adventure series "Power Rangers" will fondly remember its original Yellow Ranger "Trini", played by Thuy Trang in the first "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" series 1993 - 1995.

Thuy, who after finding fame on “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” had dedicated her life to charity work with disabled, abused and underprivileged kids sadly lost her life in a car accident on 1st September 2001. She was just 27 years old.

Today in honour of the spirited Vietnamese-American actress on the anniversary of the crash which claimed her life, I have decided to name my new house plant "Thuy".

The name, of Vietnamese origin, means "friendship" and "loyalty".

It was with friends Thuy left this world, the car she was traveling in returning from best friend Angela Rockwood-Nguyen's wedding celebrations in San Francisco. The driver, a friend of Trang and Nguyen survived the accident, however Thuy died shortly before reaching hospital due to the extent of her injuries. 

Bride-to-be actress/model Angela Rockwood-Nguyen who had tried to take control of the car and hadn't managed to re-fasten her seatbelt was thrown clear from the car and is now quadriplegic.

Thuy, who along with Nguyen had began a successful movie career had just appeared as 'Kali' the lead villain in feature film  "Crow 2: City Of Angels". Nguyen had just finished filming for "The Fast and the Furious".

Aged just 2 years old, Thuy had travelled with her mother and five siblings to the US aboard a cargo ship as they were forced to secretly flee Saigon in 1979 along with hundreds of other persecuted Southern Vietnamese citizens. Thuy spoke about her recollections of that time and having seen "true evil". The decision to travel by her mother was not taken lightly, and Thuy almost perished during the trip as she was already very ill.

Next to my "Thuy" (pictured above) is my limited edition "Yellow Ranger, Trini" collectable figurine which was re-released in 2002. Also pictured above is a publicity picture of Thuy from 1993, and a shot from "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" featuring her morph.

Check out Thuy's Memorial Site and Watch "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" on Netflix and LoveFilm instant.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Power Rangers Time Force episode from 2001 "Circuit Unsure" was dedicated to Trang's memory by producers, as was the film “Crow 2: City of Angels” on its special edition Blu-ray release in 2010.