Juliet Harmer facts for kids

Juliet Linda Harmer was born on May 11, 1941. She is an English artist, children's author, and actress. Many people know her best for her role as Georgina Jones in the BBC TV series Adam Adamant Lives!, which aired from 1966 to 1967.

Early Life and Career

Juliet Harmer first trained to be a primary school teacher. She specialized in art. After college, she taught for two years. Then, she became a presenter for BBC schools television programs.

In 1970, after her first daughter was born, she moved to the Cotswolds. She started painting again and working with children.

Juliet had always wanted to study plants, like a botanist. Her great-uncle, Sir Sidney Frederic Harmer, was even the director of the Natural History Museum in London. Her father and grandfather, who were both surgeons, also encouraged her interest in nature. However, after acting for a while, especially on TV, Juliet decided to stay home with her children. She then began writing and illustrating books for kids.

Her editor at Egmont Children's Books said her work has a "melodic simplicity." An article in the Stroud News and Journal called her art "jewel-like." Juliet says her ideas come from nature, especially from Gloucestershire, where she lives, and Cornwall, where her family often took holidays. She paints things that make her happy. She feels that painting helps her capture special moments.

Juliet Harmer has written and illustrated several books. Four of these are for children. She also created a special book about the healing powers of herbs and flowers.

Her artwork has been shown in galleries in Gloucestershire and London. Many of her paintings are now in private collections in cities like Paris, London, New York, and Sydney.

Acting on Screen

Juliet Harmer's TV career started with appearances in shows like Emergency – Ward 10, Danger Man, and Marriage Lines. She played Jill Manson in an episode of The Avengers in 1965. In this episode, she had a memorable fight scene with Diana Rigg, who played Emma Peel for the first time.

She also appeared in a short film called The Peaches in 1964. This film was about a young woman's love for peaches. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

Starring in Adam Adamant Lives!

Juliet Harmer was chosen for the role of Georgina Jones in Adam Adamant Lives! She was picked from about 300 people. She didn't even have a screen test! She later admitted that she said yes when asked if she could ride a motor scooter, even though she couldn't.

About Georgina Jones

Georgina Jones was a very fashionable Mod girl from the mid-1960s. She became friends with Adam Adamant, an adventurer from the Edwardian era. Adamant, played by Gerald Harper, had been frozen in time since 1902. When he woke up in "Swinging London" (a lively time in London), new adventures began. Georgina was usually with him. Adamant often called her "Miss Jones" and didn't quite understand her modern ways at first. Gerald Harper explained that seeing Adamant from 1902 react to Georgina wearing a mini-skirt was very funny.

In an interview in 1966, Juliet Harmer was called "the Girl from Adam Adamant." The article mentioned that she sometimes wore her own clothes for Georgina's role. This made her a trendsetter. Juliet remembered in 2006 that most of her fan mail came from 14 or 15-year-old boys.

Adam Adamant in Review

There were 29 episodes of Adam Adamant Lives! over two seasons (1966–67). Even though Verity Lambert produced the show, it didn't get the high ratings or sales the BBC hoped for. Lambert later felt it was not a success. However, she noted it had many of the same good qualities as the very popular The Avengers. A third season was thought about but never made.

Gerald Harper described Juliet Harmer as "a kooky, curious girl, but utterly beautiful and very nice." They met again forty years later at Pinewood Studios. This was for a documentary film that came with the DVD release of the 17 surviving episodes of Adam Adamant.

Later Acting Roles

After Adam Adamant, Juliet Harmer appeared in other TV series. These included Department S (1969–70), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1970), and The Persuaders! (1971). She also acted in Bless This House (1971) and Jason King (1972).

Her films include Quest for Love (1971), a science-fiction romance. She also appeared in Home Before Midnight (1979) and Paris by Night (1988). Juliet was in Carry On Matron (1972), but her scenes were cut from the final movie. In 1969, she played Stevie in Slim John, a TV show made by the BBC to teach English overseas.

Personal Life

Juliet Harmer married actor William Squire in 1967. They later divorced. Since 1977, she has been married to theatre director Bill Alexander. They have two daughters together.

Filmography

• The Peaches (1964) - The Girl
• Up Jumped a Swagman (1965) - Second London Girl
• Just like a Woman (1967) - Lewis's Girlfriend
• Quest for Love (1971) - Geraldine Lambert
• Home Before Midnight (1979) - Susan Wilshire
• Paris by Night (1988) - Delia

Children's Books

Juliet Harmer has written several books for children:

• The Little Go To Sleep Book Collins
• The Rocking Horse Collins
• Sophie's Little Angel Collins
• Prayers For Children Heinemann
• The Magic of Herbs and Flowers Macmillan
• The Tale of the Two Black Cats who tried to Run Away Austin Macauley (October 2023)

In 2003, she received a special mention in the BBC Christmas Card Wildlife competition.

Painting Exhibitions

Her paintings have been shown in various galleries in Gloucestershire and London. Some of these include:

• The Art Gallery, Long Street, Tetbury
• Royal Society of British Artists, London
• Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
• The Coln Gallery Cirencester
• Leighton House Kensington
• Gallery 54, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London