On July 12, actress Kelly Preston, 57, died after a two-year battle with breast cancer, reports People. Preston’s career spanned 40 years and included roles in films such as Twins, Jerry Maguire and For the Love of the Game.

“Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends,” said a family representative.

“She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched. Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”

Preston was married to actor John Travolta, with whom she shared three children and collaborated on several films, including The Experts, Battlefield Earth and Gotti.

Travolta announced the death of his wife of 28 years on social media, saying that she fought courageously.

“My family and I will be forever grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side,” he wrote on an Instagram post accompanying a picture of Preston. She reportedly had Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. 

Travolta wrote that Preston’s love and life will always be remembered and that he would be taking time to provide emotional support to their children.

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It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many. My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT

A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta) on

Preston and Travolta’s daughter, Ella, also shared some loving words about her mother. 

“I have never met anyone as courageous, strong beautiful and loving as you. Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy. Thank you for being there for me no matter what. Thank you for your help and thank you for making this world a better place. You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always. I love you so much mama.”

Shania Twain, Russell Crowe, Demi Moore and Arnold Schwarzenegger were among the celebrities who paid their respects to Preston. “The world has lost one of the most beautiful, kind, generous, tender-loving souls that has graced this earth,” Moore wrote. “Rest easy @therealkellypreston, we will miss you.”

For related coverage, read “14 Celebrities Who Show There’s Life After Breast Cancer,” “Breast Cancer Risk Recommendations” and “Breast Cancer Survivor Facts & Fiction.”

For more on living with metastatic breast cancer, see “Katie Couric Shines a Light on Cancer in the Time of COVID-19.”