Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Sian Phillips, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel during the curtain call of the play Marlene at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley.

Sian, who was born into a large farming family near Swansea, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Despite the screen offers she received after graduating with the Bancroft Gold Medal, she chose to work primarily in theatre, notably in the title roles in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan.

She has appeared in most Shakespeare plays, more than 50 television dramas, countless radio broadcasts and more than a dozen films, including Goodbye Mr Chips in 1969. She won the British Academy Award in 1977 for her roles in the television dramas How Green Was My Valley and I Claudius. Having made her stage musical debut in 1980 with Pal Joey, she later appeared in the National Theatre production of Sondheim's A Little Night Music in 1995.

"Oh! I don't know what to say! I'm speechless! Thank you!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 972
• Subject No: 947
• Broadcast date: Mon 17 Mar 1997
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Thu 6 Mar 1997
• Venue: unknown
• Series: 37
• Edition: 25
• Code name: Start

on the guest list...

• Ricci Burns
• Billy Mathias
• Michael Rose
• Pam Gems
• Elizabeth - cousin
• Gwynn - cousin
• Gethin - cousin
• Kate - daughter
• Pat - daughter
• Brian Blessed
• David McCallum
• Meriel Lewis - aunt
• Herbert Davies
• Charles Kay
• Keith Barron
• Angela Down
• Eileen Atkins
• Nerys Hughes
• Robert Hardy
Filmed tributes:
• Patricia Hodge
• George Thomas, Lord Tonypandy

related appearances...

• George Thomas - Dec 1983
• Brian Blessed - Apr 1984
• Cliff Morgan - Dec 1988
• Ellen Pollock - Nov 1992
• Chili Bouchier - Feb 1996
• Petula Clark - Mar 1996
• Christopher Biggins - Jan 1999

production team...

• Researcher: Elizabeth Ross
• Writer: Alec Lom
• Directors: Wendy J Dyer, Paul Kirrage
• Associate Producer: Sue Green
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Producer: John Graham

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Patricia Hodge

George Thomas

Screenshots of Sian Phillips This Is Your Life