Siân Phillips facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dame Siân Phillips DBE
Phillips in 2022
Born	Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips (1933-05-14) 14 May 1933 (age 92) Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1944–present
Spouse(s)	Don Roy ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1959)​ Peter O'Toole ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1979)​ Robin Sachs ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1991)​
Children	2, including Kate O'Toole

Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips (born 14 May 1933), known by her stage name Siân Phillips (pronounced SHAHN), is a famous Welsh actress. She has had a long and successful career on stage, in movies, and on television.

Phillips is well known for playing the powerful Roman empress Livia in the 1976 BBC television series I, Claudius. This role won her a BAFTA award. She also played Queen Cassiopeia in the movie Clash of the Titans and the Reverend Mother in Dune. For her work in drama, she was made a Dame, which is a high honor in Great Britain.

Early Life and Education

Siân Phillips was born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, a village in South Wales. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a steelworker who later became a policeman. Growing up, she spoke only the Welsh language and learned English by listening to the radio.

In school, her Welsh teacher started calling her Siân, which is the Welsh version of her birth name, Jane. She studied English and Philosophy at University College Cardiff and graduated in 1955.

After university, she won a scholarship to the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. While she was a student, she was offered movie contracts in Hollywood. However, she decided to turn them down because she preferred working in the theater.

Acting Career

Starting on Stage and Radio

Phillips began her acting career when she was only 11 years old, performing on BBC Radio in Wales. At the same age, she won an award for speech and drama at a Welsh festival called the National Eisteddfod.

She first appeared on British television at age 17. In her early twenties, she toured Wales, performing in both Welsh and English plays. In 1957, she had her first big success on the London stage in a play called Magda. She also earned praise for playing the title roles in famous plays like Hedda Gabler and Saint Joan. One critic said of her performance as Joan of Arc, "This girl doesn't act Joan – she is Joan."

In 1960, she joined the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed in plays like The Duchess of Malfi and Ondine.

Famous Movie and TV Roles

Phillips at Wilton's Music Hall in London in 2011

Throughout her long career, Phillips has appeared in many movies and TV shows. One of her most famous roles was as the clever and scheming empress Livia in the BBC series I, Claudius (1976). Her performance was so good that she won a BAFTA award for Best Actress.

Some of her other well-known roles include:

• Gwendolen in the movie Becket (1964), alongside her then-husband Peter O'Toole.
• Ursula Mossbank in the musical movie Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969).
• Ann Smiley in the spy dramas Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and Smiley's People (1982).
• Queen Cassiopeia in the fantasy adventure Clash of the Titans (1981).
• The powerful Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam in the science fiction movie Dune (1984).
• The evil witch Charal in the Star Wars movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).

More recently, she has appeared in shows like Lewis (2011), Strike (2017), and Doctor Who (2024).

Theater and Other Work

Phillips has continued to work in the theater throughout her career. She starred as the famous actress Marlene Dietrich in the musical Marlene. She also appeared in other musicals like Pal Joey and A Little Night Music.

In 2007, she provided spoken words for a song on an album by musician Rufus Wainwright. In 2010, she played Juliet in a version of Romeo and Juliet called Juliet and her Romeo at the Bristol Old Vic theatre.

In 2024, a BBC documentary called Siân Phillips at 90 looked back at her amazing life and career.

Awards and Honors

Siân Phillips has received many awards for her acting. In 2000, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2016, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to drama. This is one of the highest honors given in the United Kingdom.

The Welsh branch of BAFTA also has an award named after her, the Tlws Sian Phillips Award. It is given to a Welsh person who has made a great contribution to film or television.

Personal Life

Siân Phillips has been married three times. Her first husband was Donald Roy, a university student. Her second husband was the famous actor Peter O'Toole, with whom she had two daughters, Kate and Pat. Her third husband was actor Robin Sachs.

She has written two books about her life, called Private Faces and Public Places. She is a patron of the Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance in London, helping to support young performers.

Selected Filmography

Movies

Television

See also

In Spanish: Siân Phillips para niños