Siân Phillips

Birthday: 1933-05-14
Birthplace: Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

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. 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.

Credits

Year Title Character
2024-10-31 Apple Cider Vinegar Voice
2021-06-16 National Theatre Live: Under Milk Wood Mrs Utah Watkins / Polly Garter / Mrs Beyon
2021-05-21 Dream Horse Maureen
2020-12-04 A Christmas Carol Grandmother / narrator (voice)
2020-07-24 Summerland Margaret Corey
2019-09-01 National Theatre Live: Les Blancs Madame Neilsen
2019-07-21 Time & Again Eleanor
2019-06-16 Be Happy!
2018-06-28 To Provide All People Patient
2018-04-06 Miss Dalí Anna Maria Dalí
2018-03-01 Voyageuse Erica
2017-09-09 Hochelaga, Land of Souls Sarah Walker
2016-10-21 Aberfan: The Green Hollow
2014-06-01 Under Milk Wood Mrs. Pugh
2012-02-01 Lovesong Maggie
2004-10-31 The Murder Room Marie Strickland
2000-01-02 Cinderella: The ITV Pantomime Evil Baroness
2000-01-01 Come and Go Ru
1998-12-26 Alice Through the Looking Glass Red Queen
1998-04-10 The Scold's Bridle Mathilda Gillespie
1997-01-01 House of America Mam
1995-03-05 The Vacillations of Poppy Carew Calypso
1993-09-10 The Age of Innocence Mrs. Archer
1991-11-20 The Chestnut Soldier Nain Griffiths
1991-01-01 The Black Candle Daisy Barnett
1990-09-06 Emlyn's Moon Nain Griffiths
1990-01-01 Dark River Mrs. Blessington
1989-11-17 Valmont Madame de Volanges
1989-01-04 David Macaulay: Pyramid Mersyankh (voice)
1988-11-26 The Snow Spider Nain Griffiths
1985-11-24 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor Charal
1985-10-04 The Doctor and the Devils Annabella Rock
1984-12-14 Dune Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
1982-02-26 How Many Miles to Babylon? Mrs Alicia Moore
1981-06-12 Clash of the Titans Cassiopeia
1980-11-08 Carpathian Eagle Mrs. Henska
1980-03-20 Nijinsky Lady Ripon
1977-05-19 Heartbreak House Hesione Hushabye
1977-01-12 The Achurch Letters Janet Achurch
1974-11-05 Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill Mrs. Patrick Campbell
1972-01-27 Under Milk Wood Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard
1971-05-23 Platonov Anna
1971-01-27 Murphy's War Hayden
1969-11-05 Goodbye, Mr. Chips Ursula Mossbank
1969-05-11 Laughter in the Dark Lady Pamela More
1968-07-24 Thief Woman
1968-02-23 It’s Dearer After Midnight Jo
1966-07-04 Eh, Joe? Voice
1965-02-25 Young Cassidy Ella
1964-03-11 Becket Gwendolen
1962-11-06 Don Juan in Hell Dona Ana
1962-09-25 The Longest Day WRNS Officer (uncredited)