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Siân Phillips
Actor

Siân Phillips

14 May 1933Born
93Age
108Credits
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, WalesBirthplace

Biography

Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips DBE (born 14 May 1933), known professionally as Siân Phillips, is a Welsh actress, author and singer.

Phillips was the daughter of Sally (née Thomas), a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker-turned-policeman. She is a Welsh-speaker and in the first volume of her autobiography, "Private Faces", she notes that she spoke only Welsh for much of her childhood, learning English by listening to the radio.

She attended Pontardawe Grammar School and later read English and Philosophy at University College Cardiff, graduating in 1955. She entered RADA in LOndon, England with a scholarship in September 1955, the same year as Diana Rigg and Glenda Jackson.

Read the full biography

She went on to win the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal for Hedda Gabler and was offered work in Hollywood when she left RADA. While still a student she was offered three film contracts, entailing her to work for an extended period of time in the United States; but she declined, preferring to work on stage instead.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 108 credits.

  1. 2026Frank and PercyFilm
  2. 2024Emperor: Rise & Fall of a DynastySeries: Narrator (3 episodes)
  3. 2024Apple Cider VinegarFilm: Voice
  4. 2024Doctor WhoSeries: Enid Meadows (1 episode)
  5. 2022The Chelsea DetectiveSeries: Grandma Dix (1 episode)
  6. 2021A Year in the BeaconsSeries: Narrator (4 episodes)
  7. 2021National Theatre Live: Under Milk WoodFilm: Mrs Utah Watkins / Polly Garter / Mrs Beyon
  8. 2021Dream HorseFilm: Maureen
  9. 2020A Christmas CarolFilm: Grandmother / narrator (voice)
  10. 2020SummerlandFilm: Margaret Corey
  11. 2020McDonald & DoddsSeries: Agnes Gillian (1 episode)
  12. 2019National Theatre Live: Les BlancsFilm: Madame Neilsen
  13. 2019Time & AgainFilm: Eleanor
  14. 2019Be Happy!Film: Maria
  15. 2019Good OmensSeries: Mr. Henderson (1 episode)
  16. 2018NureyevFilm: Narrator
  17. 2018To Provide All PeopleFilm: Patient
  18. 2018Miss DalíFilm: Anna Maria Dalí
  19. 2018VoyageuseFilm: Erica
  20. 2017Hochelaga, Land of SoulsFilm: Sarah Walker
  21. 2016Aberfan: The Green HollowFilm
  22. 2014Under Milk WoodFilm: Mrs. Pugh
  23. 2012A Picture of LondonFilm: Narrator
  24. 2012Playhouse PresentsSeries: May (1 episode)
  25. 2012LovesongFilm: Maggie
  26. 2011The Mountain That Had To Be PaintedFilm: Narrator
  27. 2007LewisSeries: Adele Goffe (1 episode)
  28. 2004The Murder RoomFilm: Marie Strickland
  29. 2003The Last DetectiveSeries: Vera Dulciman (1 episode)
  30. 2003Stalin: Inside the TerrorFilm: Narrator
  31. 2001AttilaSeries: Grandmother (2 episodes)
  32. 2000Cinderella: The ITV PantomimeFilm: Evil Baroness
  33. 2000Come and GoFilm: Ru
  34. 1999The Magician's HouseSeries: Meg Lewis (12 episodes)
  35. 1999AristocratsFilm: Narrator/Older Lady Emily Lennox
  36. 1998Alice Through the Looking GlassFilm: Red Queen
  37. 1998The Scold's BridleFilm: Mathilda Gillespie
  38. 1998The Scold's BridleSeries: Mathilda (2 episodes)
  39. 1997Midsomer MurdersSeries: Lady Annabel Butler (1 episode)
  40. 1997La Femme NikitaSeries: Adrian (5 episodes)
  41. 1997IvanhoeSeries: Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (6 episodes)
  42. 1997House of AmericaFilm: Mam
  43. 1996Silent WitnessSeries: Beattie Elletson (1 episode)
  44. 1995The Mousehole CatFilm: Narrator
  45. 1995The Vacillations of Poppy CarewFilm: Calypso
  46. 1993The Return of the BorrowersSeries: Mrs. Driver (5 episodes)
  47. 1993The Age of InnocenceFilm: Mrs. Archer
  48. 1993HeidiSeries: Frau Sesemann (2 episodes)
  49. 1992The BorrowersSeries: Mrs. Driver (12 episodes)
  50. 1991The Chestnut SoldierFilm: Nain Griffiths
  51. 1991Tonight at 8.30Series: Clare Wedderburn, Barbara Faber, Olive Lloyd-Ransome (1 episode)
  52. 1991The Black CandleFilm: Daisy Barnett
  53. 1990Emlyn's MoonFilm: Nain Griffiths
  54. 1990Perfect ScoundrelsSeries: Mother Aloysius (1 episode)
  55. 1990Red EmpireSeries: Narrator (voice) (7 episodes)
  56. 1990Dark RiverFilm: Mrs. Blessington
  57. 1989ValmontFilm: Madame de Volanges
  58. 1989Shadow of the NooseSeries: Lady Scott (1 episode)
  59. 1989Agatha Christie's PoirotSeries: Mrs. Laura Upward (1 episode)
  60. 1989David Macaulay: PyramidFilm: Mersyankh (voice)
  61. 1988The Snow SpiderFilm: Nain Griffiths
  62. 1988The Snow SpiderSeries: Nain Griffiths (4 episodes)
  63. 1987Vanity FairSeries: Matilda Crawley (4 episodes)
  64. 1987A Killing on the ExchangeSeries: Isobel Makepeace (5 episodes)
  65. 1987The Two Mrs. GrenvillesSeries: Duchess of Windsor (2 episodes)
  66. 1985Ewoks: The Battle for EndorFilm: Charal
  67. 1985The Doctor and the DevilsFilm: Annabella Rock
  68. 1984DuneFilm: Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
  69. 1982How Many Miles to Babylon?Film: Mrs Alicia Moore
  70. 1981Winston Churchill: The Wilderness YearsSeries: Clementine Churchill (8 episodes)
  71. 1981Clash of the TitansFilm: Cassiopeia
  72. 1980Carpathian EagleFilm: Mrs. Henska
  73. 1980Hammer House of HorrorSeries: Mrs. Henska (1 episode)
  74. 1980NijinskyFilm: Lady Ripon
  75. 1979Tinker Tailor Soldier SpySeries: Ann Smiley (1 episode)
  76. 1979Crime and PunishmentSeries: Katerina Ivánovna (3 episodes)
  77. 1979Tales of the UnexpectedSeries: Hermione (1 episode)
  78. 1978Warrior QueenSeries: Queen Boudicca (6 episodes)
  79. 1977Heartbreak HouseFilm: Hesione Hushabye
  80. 1977The Achurch LettersFilm: Janet Achurch

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.