Sarah Silverman has paid tribute to her late mother.

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman

The 44-year-old comic - who is dating Michael Sheen - was left devastated when Beth Ann O'Hara's passed away at the age of 73 last week but she has praised her "know-it-all" parent and her outlook on life.

Posting an old picture of her mother on Twitter yesterday (24.08.15), Sarah wrote: "Wednesday morning my mom died. She was a know-it-all in overalls & two different colored socks. And defiantly, no bra.

"The woman who, when I was little, gave me detailed directions to a restaurant ladies room then secretly watched as I found my way to it on my own.

"The woman who went back to college at 42, and skinny dipped in ponds, and told me never to protect myself from a broken heart because it was so very worth the pain to get to experience love."

Sarah previously praised her mother - a producer and director known as 'mom' to a number of aspiring actors - when presenting her with a lifetime achievement award at the New Hampshire Theater Awards in 2003.

Speaking of her parent, she said at the ceremony: "[She is] loving, nurturing, caring, colourful - she used to wear two different colour socks, I'm not sure she was aware of that - supportive, honest, strong and with endless creativity and energy.

"She gives us the feeling that we fill her heart with love and I think it's because we fill her heart with love. Mom ... we feel the same. you fill our hearts, as well."