Eileen Atkins
Biography
Eileen Atkins, an English actress and writer, began working in theater, film, and television in 1953. Born in London in 1934, she made her London stage debut in 1953 and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1957. She made her Broadway debut in 1966 in The Killing of Sister George, earning a Tony Award nomination, and later received further Tony nominations for The Retreat from Moscow, Indiscretions, and Vivat! Vivat Regina! A three-time Olivier Award winner, she won Best Actress for Honour and The Unexpected Man, and she won a BAFTA TV Award and an Emmy Award for Cranford. With Jean Marsh, she co-created the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Elliot, and she wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway. Her films include Equus, The Dresser, Wolf, Cold Mountain, Vanity Fair, Last Chance Harvey, Evening, Robin Hood, and Magic in the Moonlight.
92years old
Turns 93 on June 15in 246 days
- Born London
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Movie Career
- Films
- 28
- Career span
- 49 years1975 to 2024
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Behind the camera
Atkins co-created the concept for the television series that became Upstairs, Downstairs with Jean Marsh, but could not accept a part in it because of stage commitments.
A role that slipped away
In the blockbuster movie Robin Hood, which came out in the UK in May 2010 and starred Russell Crowe, Atkins took over the part of Eleanor of Aquitaine from Vanessa Redgrave.
First role
Atkins got her first job in 1953 as Jaquenetta in Love's Labour's Lost at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, the same place she had been taken years earlier to see Robert Atkins's King John.
Early training
Atkins studied a three-year teaching course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama after failing to win one of 300 RADA scholarship places, but performed in three plays in her final year.
Beyond film
Atkins played Virginia Woolf in A Room of One's Own, winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show and an Obie Award, and also played her in Vita and Virginia.
A change of course
Atkins was fired by Peter Hall from a brief job as assistant stage manager at the Oxford Playhouse for impudence.
Eileen Atkins movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Mike Nichols directed two of these films. Emma Thompson appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Emma Thompson's page
Donald Sutherland's page
Christopher Plummer's page
Jim Broadbent's page
Timothy Spall's page
Vanessa Redgrave's page
Mike NicholsDirector, 2 films, 1994 to 2001
Also two films together16 more actors
- Mark StrongRobin Hood (2010) and Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006)
- Colin FirthMagic in the Moonlight (2014) and What a Girl Wants (2003)
- Judi DenchNothing Like a Dame (2018) and Jack & Sarah (1995)
- Ian McKellenCold Comfort Farm (1995) and Jack & Sarah (1995)
- Bob HoskinsNothing Like a Dame (2018) and Vanity Fair (2004)
- Kathy BakerLast Chance Harvey (2008) and Cold Mountain (2003)
- Joan PlowrightNothing Like a Dame (2018) and Equus (1977)
- Edward FoxA Hazard of Hearts (1987) and The Dresser (1983)
- Tom CourtenayLet Him Have It (1991) and The Dresser (1983)
- Gemma JonesWicked Little Letters (2024) and Ballet Shoes (2007)
- Douglas HodgeRobin Hood (2010) and Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006)
- Raffaello DegruttolaWhat a Girl Wants (2003) and Wit (2001)
- Adrian LesterBallet Shoes (2007) and Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006)
- Cherie LunghiJack & Sarah (1995) and Oliver Twist (1982)
- Deborah FindlayVanity Fair (2004) and Jack & Sarah (1995)
- Cathy TysonChickLit (2016) and The Lost Language of Cranes (1992)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Eileen Atkins's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$939 million
16 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 28 films: 16 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 16Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 5Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 92% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$322M34.2% of the total
- 2$173M18.4% of the total
- 3$131M13.9% of the total
- 4$60M6.4% of the total
- 5$51M5.4% of the total
- 6$51M5.4% of the total
- 7$49M5.2% of the total
- 8$33M3.5% of the total
$70.6 millionfrom the other 8 films with a worldwide figure, 8% of the total
Awards
Six awards and honors from 1992 to 2008, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2008 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Cranford | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1995 | Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress | Won | |
| 1992 | Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress | Won | |
| Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
| Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress | Won | ||
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.