Barbara Jefford
Biography
Barbara Jefford was a British actress known for her Shakespearean performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Old Vic. Born in Plymstock and raised mainly in Somerset, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, won its Bancroft Gold Medal, and made her stage debut in 1949 as Viola in Twelfth Night in Brighton. At Stratford-upon-Avon from 1950 she played Isabella in Peter Brook's Measure for Measure, then many major Shakespearean roles. Her first important film part was Molly Bloom in Ulysses (1967), earning a BAFTA nomination, and in 1991 she was Olivier nominated for Volumnia in Coriolanus. Her screen credits included The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973), And the Ship Sails On (1983), Claudia (1985), The Ninth Gate (1999), The Deep Blue Sea (2011) and Philomena (2013). She was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1965 and died in 2020.
90years old at death
- Born Plymstock
- Died Mousehole
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Mary Barbara Jefford
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 45 years1968 to 2013
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Own stunts
Barbara Jefford provided the uncredited voice of Tatiana Romanova in the James Bond film From Russia with Love, dubbing for Daniela Bianchi, and later dubbed Molly Peters in Thunderball and Caroline Munro in The Spy Who Loved Me.
Behind the award
Jefford received the Officer of Order of the British Empire in 1965 for her service to the theater. At that date, she was the youngest civilian to have been given the award.
First role
Barbara Jefford made her stage debut in 1949 as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Dolphin Theatre, Brighton, while she was still a student.
Big break
Barbara Jefford worked in repertory theater for just one year before landing the role of Isabella in Peter Brook's 1950 production of Measure for Measure at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, opposite John Gielgud and Harry Andrews.
A first
Barbara Jefford appeared in 54 productions of Shakespeare's plays, covering all but four of his works, and her last Shakespearean role was Queen Margaret in Michael Grandage's Richard III with Kenneth Branagh in 2002.
Barbara Jefford movies on Netflix
Philomenaas Sister Hildegarde
The Deep Blue Seaas Collyer's Mother
The Ninth Gateas Baroness Kessler
A Village Affairas Lady Unwin
Where Angels Fear to Treadas Mrs. Herriton
Reunionas Frau Strauss
Claudiaas Rosa
And the Ship Sails Onas Ildebranda Cuffari
Hitler: The Last Ten Daysas Magda Goebbels
The Shoes of the Fishermanas Dr. Ruth Faber
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Barbara Jefford shares two films with Eileen Davies, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.










Films together
Eileen Davies2 films together, 1991 to 1995
Eileen Davies's page A Village Affair1995IMDb rating 5.9Jefford as Lady UnwinDavies as Sally Mott
Where Angels Fear to Tread1991IMDb rating 6.3Jefford as Mrs. HerritonDavies as Ethel
Anthony Quinn1 film together, 1968
Anthony Quinn's page The Shoes of the Fisherman1968IMDb rating 7.0Jefford as Dr. Ruth FaberQuinn as Kiril Lakota
Johnny Depp1 film together, 1999
Johnny Depp's page The Ninth Gate1999IMDb rating 6.7Jefford as Baroness KesslerDepp as Dean Corso
Helen Mirren1 film together, 1991
Helen Mirren's page Where Angels Fear to Tread1991IMDb rating 6.3Jefford as Mrs. HerritonMirren as Lilia Herriton
Joss Ackland1 film together, 1973
Joss Ackland's page Hitler: The Last Ten Days1973IMDb rating 6.5Jefford as Magda GoebbelsAckland as General Burgdorf
Judi Dench1 film together, 2013
Judi Dench's page Philomena2013IMDb rating 7.6Jefford as Sister HildegardeDench as Philomena Lee
Roman PolanskiDirector, 1 film, 1999
All films by Roman Polanski The Ninth Gate1999IMDb rating 6.7Jefford as Baroness Kessler
Stephen FrearsDirector, 1 film, 2013
All films by Stephen Frears Philomena2013IMDb rating 7.6Jefford as Sister Hildegarde
Terence DaviesDirector, 1 film, 2011
All films by Terence Davies The Deep Blue Sea2011IMDb rating 6.2Jefford as Collyer's Mother
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


