Siân Phillips
Known for

Acting

Credits

99

Gender

Woman

Birthday

14 May 1933 (91)

Place of birth

Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales

Also known as
Sian Phillips
Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips

Siân Phillips

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. 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
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2024Doctor WhoEnid Meadows
2024Apple Cider VinegarVoice
2023Siân Phillips at 90Self
2022The Chelsea DetectiveGrandma Dix
2022Peter O'Toole: Along the Sky Road to AqabaSelf
2022Stephen Sondheim's Old FriendsSelf
2021Dream HorseMaureen
2021National Theatre Live: Under Milk WoodMrs Utah Watkins / Polly Garter / Mrs Beyon
2021A Year in the BeaconsNarrator
2021Wonders of the Celtic DeepSelf - Narrator
2020SummerlandMargaret Corey
2020McDonald & DoddsAgnes Gillian
2020A Christmas CarolGrandmother / narrator (voice)
2019Good OmensMr. Henderson
2019Be Happy!
2019Time & AgainEleanor
2019National Theatre Live: Les BlancsMadame Neilsen
2018NureyevNarrator
2018Miss DalíAnna Maria Dalí
2018VoyageuseErica
2018To Provide All PeoplePatient
2017Hochelaga, Land of SoulsSarah Walker
2016Aberfan: The Green Hollow
2014Under Milk WoodMrs. Pugh
2012A Picture of LondonNarrator
2012LovesongMaggie
2011The Mountain That Had To Be PaintedNarrator
2007The 50 Greatest Television DramasSelf
2004The Murder RoomMarie Strickland
2003The Last DetectiveVera Dulciman
2003Stalin: Inside the TerrorNarrator
2003Still: Here/NowSelf
2002I, Claudius: A Television EpicSelf
2001AttilaGrandmother
2000Come and GoRu
2000Cinderella: The ITV PantomimeEvil Baroness
1999The Magician's HouseMeg Lewis
1999AristocratsNarrator/Older Lady Emily Lennox
1998Alice Through the Looking GlassRed Queen
1998The Scold's BridleMathilda Gillespie
1998The Scold's BridleMathilda
1997Midsomer MurdersLady Annabel Butler
1997La Femme NikitaAdrian
1997IvanhoeQueen Eleanor of Aquitaine
1997House of AmericaMam
1997ArthouseSelf - Commentary
1996Silent WitnessBeattie Elletson
1995The Vacillations of Poppy CarewCalypso
1995The Mousehole CatNarrator
1993The Age of InnocenceMrs. Archer
1993HeidiFrau Sesemann
1993The Return of the BorrowersMrs. Driver
1993The BorrowersMrs. Driver
1991The Black CandleDaisy Barnett
1991The Chestnut SoldierNain Griffiths
1990Emlyn's MoonNain Griffiths
1990Perfect ScoundrelsMother Aloysius
1990Red EmpireNarrator (voice)
1990Dark RiverMrs. Blessington
1989Agatha Christie's PoirotMrs. Laura Upward
1989ValmontMadame de Volanges
1989David Macaulay: PyramidMersyankh (voice)
1988The Snow SpiderNain Griffiths
1987The Two Mrs. GrenvillesDuchess of Windsor
1987Vanity FairMiss Matilda Crawley
1985Ewoks: The Battle for EndorCharal
1985The Doctor and the DevilsAnnabella Rock
1984DuneReverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
1982Smiley's People
1982How Many Miles to Babylon?Mrs Alicia Moore
1981Clash of the TitansCassiopeia
1980Hammer House of HorrorMrs. Henska
1980NijinskyLady Ripon
1980Carpathian EagleMrs. Henska
1979Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyAnn Smiley
1979Tales of the UnexpectedHermione
1979Crime and PunishmentKaterina Ivanovna
1978Warrior QueenQueen Boudicca
1977Heartbreak HouseHesione Hushabye
1976I, ClaudiusLivia
1976I, ClaudiusLivia Drusilla
1975How Green Was My ValleyBeth Morgan
1974Jennie: Lady Randolph ChurchillMrs. Patrick Campbell
1974Shoulder to ShoulderEmmeline Pankhurst
1972Under Milk WoodMrs. Ogmore-Pritchard
1971Murphy's WarHayden
1971PlatonovAnna
1969Goodbye, Mr. ChipsUrsula Mossbank
1969Laughter in the DarkLady Pamela More
1968It’s Dearer After MidnightJo
1968ThiefWoman
1966Eh, Joe?Voice
1965Young CassidyElla
1964BecketGwendolen
1962The Longest DayWRNS Officer (uncredited)
1962Don Juan in HellDona Ana
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee
1951Hallmark Hall of FameLady Lavery
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2021National Theatre Live: Under Milk WoodWriter