Kate O'Mara

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Kate O'Mara
Kate O'Mara in trailer for "The Vampire Lovers"
Kate O'Mara in trailer for The Vampire Lovers
Born Frances M. Carroll
(1939-08-10) 10 August 1939
Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
Occupation Actress
Spouse(s) Jeremy Young (m. 1961–76) (divorced)
Richard Willis (m. 1993–96) (divorced)
Children Dickon Young
Relatives Belinda Carroll (sister)
Website
twitter.com/KateOmara_

Kate O'Mara (born 10 August 1939, Leicester, Leicestershire) is an English film, stage and television actress. She is perhaps most widely known for her role as Caress Morell, the scheming sister of Alexis Colby in the 1980s American primetime soap opera Dynasty, though is also known for playing other villains such as the Rani in Doctor Who. She also worked alongside Colin Baker in "The Brothers", and portrayed Laura Wilde in Howards' Way.

Personal life

The daughter of John F. Carroll, an RAF flying instructor and actress Hazel Bainbridge (b. 1909/1910 – d. 7 January 1998). Her younger sister is actress Belinda Carroll,[1] making O'Mara the ex-sister-in-law to actor Simon Williams.[2] After boarding school she attended art school before becoming a full-time actress.[3]

She has been married and divorced three times and had a son, Dickon Young (b. 1964), formerly a stage manager for the Royal Shakespeare Company before setting up his own company building tree-houses in the mid-1990s. He was found hanged, presumed suicide, at the family home in Long Marston, Warwickshire on 31 December 2012.[4]

She is a vegetarian and animal rights activist.[5]

Career

O'Mara made her stage debut in a production of The Merchant of Venice in 1963. Her earliest television appearances included guest roles on Danger Man, Adam Adamant Lives!, The Saint, Z-Cars and The Avengers in the 1960s. In 1970, she appeared in two Hammer Studio horror films; The Vampire Lovers and The Horror of Frankenstein. In 1975, she had a regular role in the BBC drama series The Brothers as Jane Maxwell.

In the early 1980s, O'Mara starred in the BBC soap opera Triangle. In 1985, she played the Rani in the Doctor Who adventure "The Mark of the Rani". In 1986, she was cast as Caress Morrell in the American primetime soap opera Dynasty.[6] Playing the sister of Alexis Colby (Joan Collins), O'Mara appeared in 17 episodes of the sixth season and 4 episodes of the seventh. After returning to the UK, she appeared in her second Doctor Who story, "Time and the Rani" in 1987. She was then later cast as another scheming villain, Laura Wilde, in the BBC soap Howards' Way in 1989.

O'Mara continued to make television appearances throughout the 1990s, including Cluedo and Absolutely Fabulous. In 2001, she had a recurring role in the ITV prison drama series Bad Girls before appearing in the short-lived revival of the soap opera Crossroads. She has continued to perform on stage and in March 2008 she played Marlene Dietrich in a stage play entitled Lunch with Marlene. From August to November 2008, she played Mrs Cheveley in Oscar Wilde's stage play 'An Ideal Husband' directed by Peter Hall and produced by Bill Kenwright. [citation needed]

O'Mara has also performed in radio and audio plays. In 2000 she reprised her role as the Rani in the BBV audio play The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind, and in 2006 she made a guest appearance in the radio comedy series Nebulous.

Writing

O'Mara has written four books, two fictional novels (When She Was Bad (ISBN 0261667157) and Good Time Girl (ISBN 0002242915)) and two autobiographical books, Vamp Until Ready (ISBN 1861057008) and Game Plan: A Woman's Survival Kit (ISBN 0283060573).

Film and television credits

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1964–
1966
No Hiding Place Jacqueline 2 episodes
1965 Danger Man Annette Episode: A Room in the Basement
1965 Gaslight Theatre Patience Episode: The Drunkard or, the Sins of the Parents Shall Be Visited...
1966 Court Martial (TV series) Episode: Logistics of Survival
1966 Weavers Green Mick Armstrong
1967 Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond Miss Moneypenny's assistant Uncredited
1967 Adam Adamant Lives! Sonia Fawzi Episode: The Basardi Affair
1967 Troubleshooters, TheThe Troubleshooters Kim Hart Episode: Mr. Know-How
1967–
1968
Saint, TheThe Saint Annabelle/Nadine/Yvette Episodes: Double Take, Counterfeit Countess, Fast Women
1967–
1969
Z-Cars Kate/Mae Astell 4 episodes
1968 Promenade Laura Short film
1968 Limbo Line, TheThe Limbo Line Irina Tovskia
1968 Corruption Val Nolan
1968 Champions, TheThe Champions Jane Purcell Episode: To Catch a Rat
1968 Great Catherine Varinka Gordon Flemyng film
1969 Avengers, TheThe Avengers Lisa Episode: Stay Tuned
1969 Desperados, TheThe Desperados Adah (Jacob's girl) Henry Levin film
1969 Main Chance, TheThe Main Chance Julia Main 4 episodes
1969 Department S Pietra Episode: Who Plays the Dummy
1970 Never a Cross Word Ellie Episode: When is a Spy...
1970 Man About a Dog Storm Riordan
1970 Codename Helen Lingard Episode: Opening Gambit
1970 Paul Temple Luciana Benedetti Episode: Re-take
1970 Vampire Lovers, TheThe Vampire Lovers The Governess (Mme. Perrodot) Roy Ward Baker film
1970 Adventures of Don Quick, TheThe Adventures of Don Quick Peleen Episode: People isn't Everything
1970 Horror of Frankenstein, TheThe Horror of Frankenstein Alys Jimmy Sangster film
1970 Cannon for Cordoba Whore
1972 Man About a Dog, AA Man About a Dog Storm Riordan
1972 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Storm Riordan
1972 Persuaders!, TheThe Persuaders! Heidi Schulman Episode: Read and Destroy
1972 Jason King Delphi Episode: A Kiss for a Beautiful Killer
1972 Clouds of Witness Cynthia Tarrant Episode 1.3
1972 Pathfinders Section Officer Anne Denby Episode: Fog
1973 Spy Trap Sharon Lunghi 3 episodes
1974 Feelings Barbara Martin Gerry O'Hara film
1974 Protectors, TheThe Protectors Sarah Trent Episode: A Pocketful of Posies
1974 Tamarind Seed, TheThe Tamarind Seed Anna Skriabina Blake Edwards film
1975–
1976
Brothers, TheThe Brothers Jane Maxwell 30 episodes
1976 Machinegunner Pat Livingston
1976 Morecambe & Wise Kate O'Mata Hari Christmas Special
1976 The Two Ronnies The Gypsy Queen
1977 The Two Ronnies Lucy Lee Series 6 Episodes 3–6: Stop! You're Killing Me mini-serial
1978 Tuntematon ystävä (An Unknown Friend) Karen Lindén/Judith Russell/Berit Lindström Finnish crime/suspense film
1978 Return of the Saint Jeanette Episode: Assault Force
1978 Nativity, TheThe Nativity Salome TV film
1979 Plank, TheThe Plank 'It's Paint' Woman
1981–
1982
Triangle Katherine Laker 27 episodes
1985 & 1987 Doctor Who The Rani 6 episodes
1986 Dempsey and Makepeace Joyce Hargreaves Episode: Guardian Angels
1987 Great Catherine Varinka
1986 Dynasty Cassandra 'Caress' Morrell 21 episodes
1989–
1990
Howards' Way Laura Wilde 26 episodes
1990 Cluedo Mrs. Peacock Episode: Christmas Past, Christmas Present
1992 Aladdin Madam Roly Poly (voice) Ron Clements and John Musker film
1993 Comic Relief: The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes Female Patient
1993 Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time The Rani 2 mini episodes
1995–
2003
Absolutely Fabulous Jackie Stone 2 episodes
1997 New Adventures of Robin Hood, TheThe New Adventures of Robin Hood Lady Isabelle Episode: Marion to the Rescue
1999 Road to Ithaca, TheThe Road to Ithaca Despina
2001 Bad Girls Virginia O'Kane 4 episodes
2003 Crossroads Lady Alice Fox Soap opera
2005 Family Affairs Jackie Lawrence Soap opera
2008 Doctors Rosetta Froom Episode: Fears, Feats & the Frooms
2012 Benidorm Barbara Simmonds 1 episode

Theatre

  • 1964, Jessica, The Merchant of Venice at Lady Macduff Shakespeare for Schools Co.
  • 1966, Lydia Languish, The Rivals at The Welsh Theatre Co.
  • 1967, Elsa, The Italian Girl at the Wyndham's Theatre
  • 1970, Fleda Vetch, The Spoils of Poynton at the Mayfair Theatre
  • 1971, Gerda Von Metz, The Avengers at the Prince of Wales Theatre
  • 1971-2, Sheila Wallis, Suddenly at Home at the Fortune Theatre
  • 1974, Elvira, Blithe Spirit at the Bristol Old Vic
  • 1974, Liza Moriarty, Sherlock's Last Case at the Open Space Theatre Fortune Theatre
  • 1977, Sybil Merton, Lord Arthur Saville's Crime at the Sadlers Wells Theatre
  • 1977, Louka, Arms and the Man at the Hong Kong Festival
  • 1978, Rosaline, Loves Labour's Lost at the Thorndike Theatre
  • 1978, Katherina, The Taming of the Shrew at the Ludlow Festival
  • 1978, Cyrenne, Rattle of a Simple Man
  • 1979, Monica Claverton- Ferry, The Elder Statesman
  • 1979, Lina, Misalliance at The Birmingham Rep
  • 1979, Irene St Clair, The Crucifer of Blood at the Haymarket Theatre
  • 1980, Ruth, Night and Day, at post-London tour
  • 1981, Stephanie Abrahams, Duet for One Yugoslavia and tour
  • 1981, Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing at the New Shakespeare Co
  • 1982, Kathrina, The Taming of the Shrew at the Nottingham Playhouse\New Shakespeare Co
  • 1982, Titania\Hippolta, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the New Shakespeare Co
  • 1982, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth at the Mercury Theatre
  • 1982, Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra at the Nottingham Playhouse
  • 1982, Millamant, The Way of the World at the Nottingham Playhouse
  • 1983, Hortense, The Rehearsal
  • 1984, Mistress Ford, The Merry Wives of Windsor at the New Shakespeare Co
  • 1985 – 1987, Frances Black, Light Up the Sky at the Old Vic & Globe Theatres
  • 1987, Goneril, King Lear at the Compass Theatre
  • 1988, Berinthia, The Relapse at the Mermaid Theatre
  • 1990, Torfreida, The Last Englishman at The Orange Tree Theatre
  • 1990, Martha, Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
  • 1991, Lilli Vanessi, Kiss Me Kate, RSC tour
  • 1992, Lady Fanciful, The Provok'd Wife at the National Theatre Studio
  • 1992, Rosabel, Venus Observed at the Chichester Festival
  • 1992, Eve, Cain at the Chichester Festival
  • 1992, Jackie, King Lear in New York at the Chichester Festival
  • 1994, Maria Wislack, On Approval
  • 1995, Pola, The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles at The Orange Tree Theatre
  • 1995, Rachel, My Cousin Rachel, English Theatre, Vienna and tour 1995
  • 1996, Olivia, Twelfth Night at the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke
  • 1996-7, Mrs. Cheveley, An Ideal Husband at the Haymarket, Albury and Gielgud theatres
  • 2000, Mrs. Malaprop\Lucy, The Rivals
  • 2000, Madame Alexandre, Colombe at the Salisbury Playhouse
  • 2003, Gertrude Lawrence, Noel and Gertie
  • 2004, Mrs Arbuthnot, A Woman of No Importance
  • 2005, Eloise, The Marquise at the Mercury Theatre
  • 2005, Helen, We Happy Few at the Gielgud Theatre
  • 2010, Lady Windemere, Lord Arthur Saville's Crime at the Mercury Theatre
  • 2010, Marlene Dietrich, Lunch with Marlene at The New End Theatre
  • Angelica, Love for Love, Watford
  • Rosalind in As You Like It, British Actor's Theatre Co tour
  • Mary Queen of Scots, Shadow in the Sun, Hedda Gabler at Harrogate
  • Curley's Wife in "Of Mice and Men, Bromley tours of "Double Edge"
  • Shock
  • Bell, Book and Candle
  • The Holow
  • Murder on the Nile
  • The Titfield Thunderbolt, Passport to Pimlico

References

  1. Birth registration info from Findmypast.co.uk:
    Civil Registration event: Birth
    Name: CARROLL, Frances M
    Registration District: Leicester
    County: Leicestershire
    Year of Registration: 1939
    Quarter of Registration: Oct–Nov–Dec
    Mother's Maiden Name: Bainbridge
    Volume No: 7A, Page No: 592
  2. Daily Mail, Weekend, 15 January 2011
  3. "She’s not a superbitch after all". Edinburgh Evening News. 25 April 2002. Retrieved 23 November 2013. 
  4. "Kate O'Mara 'beyond distraught' over son's suspected suicide". The Daily Telegraph (London: TMG). 3 January 2013. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 23 November 2013. 
  5. Webber, Richard (2010). "The shape I'm in: Kate O'Mara". Mail Online. Retrieved 23 November 2013. 
  6. Charles, Marissa (27 October 2009). "Kate O'Mara". Metro News. Retrieved 23 November 2013. 

External links

See also

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