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Barbara Shelley

Barbara Shelley

9 movies on Netflix

Biography

Barbara Shelley was an English film and television actress who worked in more than a hundred productions and was best known for horror. Born in Marylebone, London, she took up modeling in 1951 after her acting teacher suggested it would build her confidence, and the work led to a minor part in the Hammer film Mantrap in 1953, credited as Barbara Kowin. She then spent four years in Rome making nine Italian films, and returned to Britain in 1957 for Cat Girl (1957). Her horror credits included The Camp on Blood Island (1958), Blood of the Vampire (1958), Village of the Damned (1960), Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966) and Quatermass and the Pit (1967). Hammer made her its top female performer and she was called the Queen of Hammer. On television she appeared in Danger Man, The Avengers, Doctor Who and EastEnders, and she acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company between 1975 and 1977.

88years old at death

  • Born Marylebone
  • Died London
  • Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
  • Also credited as Barbra Kowin, Barbra T. Kowin, Barbara Kowin and Barbara T. Kowin

Movie Career

Films
9
Career span
11 years1956 to 1967

Genres

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  1. First role

    Shelley started modeling in 1951, and this led to a small part in the 1953 Hammer Film Productions movie Mantrap, playing a fashion show commentator. For that film she used her birth name, Barbara Kowin.

  2. About the name

    While on holiday in Rome, Shelley met the Italian comic actor Walter Chiari, who saw her talent and told her to take the name of his favorite poet, Shelley.

  3. Languages

    Shelley planned a month's holiday but ended up living in Rome for four years. There she appeared in nine Italian films and spoke Italian.

Barbara Shelley movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Village of the Damned1960 Horror, Sci-Fias Anthea Zellaby

    IMDb rating 7.322K votes

  2. Dracula: Prince of Darkness1966 Horroras Helen Kent

    IMDb rating 6.612K votes

  3. Five Million Years to Earth1967as Barbara Judd

    IMDb rating 7.013K votes

  4. Rasputin: The Mad Monk1966as Sonia

    IMDb rating 6.23.9K votes

  5. The Shadow of the Cat1961as Beth Venable

    IMDb rating 6.31.9K votes

  6. Blood of the Vampire1958as Madeleine

    IMDb rating 5.51.8K votes

  7. Cat Girl1957as Leonora Johnson / Leonora Brandt

    IMDb rating 5.4776 votes

  8. The Camp on Blood Island1958as Kate Keiller

    IMDb rating 6.6884 votes

Most often with

Twelve actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Films together

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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