Brigit Forsyth

Brigit Forsyth
Born 28 July 1940
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Occupation Actress
Spouse(s) Brian Mills (1976-2006; his death, separated 1999)[1]

Brigit Forsyth (born 28 July 1940, in Edinburgh, Scotland)[2] is a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?[3] and Helen Yeldham in the ITV drama Boon.

Early life

After leaving school, Forsyth trained as a secretary before enrolling at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she won the Emile Littler Award.[4] She then joined various repertory companies, including Lincoln, Edinburgh, Salisbury, Cheltenham, Hornchurch and Watford.

Career

Forsyth toured in My Fat Friend and performed in the West End productions of The Norman Conquests; and Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi .

Her film work includes The Wrong Side of the Blanket (1970), as Miss Wiggins Teape; The Night Digger (1971), as district nurse; The Likely Lads (1976), as Thelma Ferris; and Crystalstone (1988), as Isabel.[5]

Forsyth played the cello from the age of nine, but abandoned it once she went to drama school. Her ability was employed when, in 2004, she was cast in the lead role in Cello and the Nightingale, a play about internationally acclaimed cellist Beatrice Harrison that premiered at York Theatre Royal.[6]

Forsyth's television work includes Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, as Thelma (1973–74); The Glamour Girls (1980-82), as Veronica Haslett; Tom, Dick and Harriet (1983), as Harriet Maddison; The Practice, as Dr. Judith Vincent (1986); Sharon and Elsie, as Elsie Beecroft (1984–85); Dark Season (1991), as Miss Maitland; and Boon (ITV, 1989), as Helen Yeldham.[7] She has guested on The Bill; Doctor Who; Dr Finlay's Casebook; Wycliffe; Agatha Christie's Poirot; and also appeared in The Sinners; Holly, as the title character Holly Elliot; Adam Smith; Bizarre and Rummage; The Master of Ballantrae; Jackanory; Holding The Fort; Tom, Dick, and Harriet; Waiting; Dangerfield; Running Wild; The Visit; Graham's Gang; I Told You, Didn't I?; Stanley's Vision, as Hilda Spencer; My World; Henry; Nice Town (1992) as Rosemary Dobson; Murder Most Horrid (episode: "A Life Or Death Operation") (BBC2, 1996) as Mrs. Osman; Spark (1997) as Mrs. Wells; and Playing the Field (BBC1, 1998) as Francine Pratt.[8] In March 1998, Forsyth made a guest appearance in Coronation Street as Ken Barlow's dating agency client, Babs Fanshawe. She has also worked regularly in radio comedy and drama.[9]

Forsyth appeared in the 2013 Christmas special of Still Open All Hours and returned for a full series on 26 December 2014.

Her stage work includes Calendar Girls in 2008[10] and Alan Bennett's People in 2013. She had previously appeared in Bennett's Single Spies in which she played the part of the Queen.[11]

In 2002, Forsyth was the subject of This Is Your Life when she was surprised by Michael Aspel at BBC Broadcasting House.

References

  1. ↑ Anthony Hayward Obituary: Brian Mills, The Independent, 25 July 2006
  2. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". IMDB. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Parkes, Diane. "Whatever Happened to Brigit Forsyth?". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Limited. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". IMDB. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sweet music from the Likely Lass". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 10 May 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". IMDB. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". IMDB. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Brigit Forsyth". The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Limited. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑

External links