Siân Phillips (born Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales) 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. 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.
Movie | Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends | Self | 2022-05-03 |
Movie | Dream Horse | Maureen | 2021-05-21 |
Movie | National Theatre Live: Under Milk Wood | Mrs Utah Watkins / Polly Garter / Mrs Beyon | 2021-06-16 |
Movie | Summerland | Margaret Corey | 2020-07-24 |
Movie | Be Happy! | 2019-06-16 | |
Movie | National Theatre Live: Les Blancs | Madame Neilsen | 2019-09-01 |
Movie | To Provide All People | Patient | 2018-06-28 |
Movie | Miss Dalí | Anna Maria Dalí | 2018-04-06 |
Movie | Nureyev | Narrator | 2018-09-25 |
Movie | Hochelaga, Land of Souls | Sarah Walker | 2017-09-09 |
Movie | Aberfan: The Green Hollow | 2016-10-21 | |
Movie | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Pugh | 2014-06-01 |
Movie | The 50 Greatest Television Dramas | Self | 2007-02-03 |
Movie | Stalin: Inside the Terror | Narrator | 2003-01-08 |
Movie | Still: Here/Now | Self | 2003-11-01 |
Series | Attila | Grandmother | 2001-01-30 |
Series | The Magician's House | Meg Lewis | 1999-10-31 |
Movie | Aristocrats | Narrator/Older Lady Emily Lennox | 1999-06-20 |
Movie | The Scold's Bridle | Mathilda Gillespie | 1998-04-10 |
Movie | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Red Queen | 1998-12-26 |
Movie | House of America | Mam | 1997-01-01 |
Series | Ivanhoe | Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine | 1997-01-12 |
Movie | The Vacillations of Poppy Carew | Calypso | 1995-03-05 |
Series | Heidi | Frau Sesemann | 1993-07-18 |
Movie | The Age of Innocence | Mrs. Archer | 1993-09-10 |
Movie | The Black Candle | Daisy Barnett | 1991-01-01 |
Movie | Emlyn's Moon | Nain Griffiths | 1990-09-06 |
Movie | Dark River | Mrs. Blessington | 1990-01-01 |
Movie | David Macaulay: Pyramid | Mersyankh (voice) | 1989-01-04 |
Movie | Valmont | Madame de Volanges | 1989-11-17 |
Movie | The Snow Spider | Nain Griffiths | 1988-11-26 |
Series | The Two Mrs. Grenvilles | Duchess of Windsor | 1987-02-08 |
Movie | The Doctor and the Devils | Annabella Rock | 1985-10-04 |
Movie | Ewoks: The Battle for Endor | Charal | 1985-11-24 |
Movie | Dune | Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam | 1984-12-14 |
Movie | How Many Miles to Babylon? | Mrs Alicia Moore | 1982-02-26 |
Movie | Clash of the Titans | Cassiopeia | 1981-06-12 |
Movie | Nijinsky | Lady Ripon | 1980-03-20 |
Movie | Carpathian Eagle | Mrs. Henska | 1980-11-08 |
Series | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | Ann Smiley | 1979-09-10 |
Series | Warrior Queen | Queen Boudicca | 1978-02-20 |
Series | I, Claudius | Livia Drusilla | 1976-09-20 |
Series | How Green Was My Valley | Beth Morgan | 1975-12-29 |
Movie | Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill | Mrs. Patrick Campbell | 1974-11-05 |
Movie | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard | 1972-01-27 |
Movie | Murphy's War | Hayden | 1971-01-27 |
Movie | Laughter in the Dark | Lady Pamela More | 1969-05-11 |
Movie | Goodbye, Mr. Chips | Ursula Mossbank | 1969-11-05 |
Movie | Young Cassidy | Ella | 1965-02-25 |
Movie | Becket | Gwendolen | 1964-03-11 |
Movie | The Longest Day | WRNS Officer (uncredited) | 1962-09-25 |