Siân Phillips

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Birth Name: Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips

Age: 91, born 14 May 1933

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Height: 5' 7"

Relationship Status: Single

Lists

68 votes

HG's Dark Place: 300+ Actresses from Hammer Horror (320 items)
list by Holy Godiva

Published 9 years ago

1 comment

25 votes

Directed by David Lynch (114 items)
list by diabolical dr voodoo

Published 15 years, 1 month ago

1 comment

25 votes

Lynch Chicks (28 items)
list by Alabama1971

Published 14 years, 10 months ago

3 comments

20 votes

Directed by Martin Scorsese (209 items)
list by diabolical dr voodoo

Published 14 years, 10 months ago

3 comments

9 votes

Welsh actors and actresses (84 items)
list by Kenji

Published 10 years, 9 months ago

1 comment

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Description: Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips, known professionally as Siân Phillips, is a Welsh actress. She was born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen to Sally (née Thomas), a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker who became a policeman. Phillips attended Pontardawe Grammar School and later read English and Philosophy at University College Cardiff. Phillips graduated from the University of Wales in 1955. She entered RADA with a scholarship in September 1955. She won the 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 to work Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips, known professionally as Siân Phillips, is a Welsh actress. She was born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen to Sally (née Thomas), a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker who became a policeman.

Phillips attended Pontardawe Grammar School and later read English and Philosophy at University College Cardiff. Phillips graduated from the University of Wales in 1955. She entered RADA with a scholarship in September 1955. She won the 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 to work for an extended period of time in the United States, but she declined, preferring to work on stage.

From 1953 to 1955, Phillips was a member of the BBC Repertory Company and the National Theatre Company and toured Wales performing Welsh and English plays for the Welsh Arts Council. For the Nottingham Playhouse in 1958, she was Masha in "Three Sisters". She performed as Princess Siwan in Saunders Lewis's "The King's Daughter" at the Hampstead Theatre Club in 1959 and as Katherine in "Taming of the Shrew" for the Oxford Playhouse in 1960. She was Princess Siwan again in the BBC's production of "Siwan: The King's Daughter" alongside Peter O'Toole with Emyr Humphrys as producer.

From October 1958 to April 1959, she was compere of the "Land of Song" ("Gwlad y Gân") monthly programme at TWW (Television Wales and the West) Channel 10 with baritone Ivor Emmanuel.

She made her first appearance on the London stage in 1957 when she appeared in Hermann Sudermann's "Magda" for RADA.

Her long career has included many films and television programmes, but she is perhaps best known for starring as Livia in the popular BBC adaptation of Robert Graves's novel "I, Claudius" (BBC2, 1976), for which she won the 1977 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress, and for many appearances on the original run of "Call My Bluff".

Phillips's West End credits include "Marlene" (in which she portrayed Marlene Dietrich), "Pal Joey", "Gigi" and "A Little Night Music". She has also appeared on the American stage in "Marlene".

Phillips was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to drama.

Her two volumes of autobiography – "Private Faces" and "Public Places" – were published in 1999 and 2001, respectively.
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Tags: Actress (1), Born 1933 (1), Hammer House Of Horror (1)

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