Siân Phillips

Siân Phillips

1933-05-14

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.

Also appears in

Dune

Dune

6.2

Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans

6.9

The Longest Day

The Longest Day

7.6

The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence

7.0

Summerland

Summerland

7.5

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

5.4

Becket

Becket

7.1

Valmont

Valmont

6.7

Dream Horse

Dream Horse

7.0

Murphy’s War

Murphy’s War

6.1

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

6.7

The Doctor and the Devils

The Doctor and the Devils

6.4

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass

5.1

Hochelaga, Land of Souls

Hochelaga, Land of Souls

5.4

Peter O’Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba

Peter O’Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba

7.6

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

Not yet rated

The Vacillations of Poppy Carew

The Vacillations of Poppy Carew

5.0

Under Milk Wood

Under Milk Wood

6.1

Nijinsky

Nijinsky

5.3

The Scold’s Bridle

The Scold’s Bridle

7.0