Hilary Mason

Hilary Mason was an English character actress whose long career was built mainly on British television. Born in Birmingham, she studied at the London School of Dramatic Art and then worked in repertory theaters across Britain. Her widest international notice came from playing Heather, a blind psychic, in Nicolas Roeg's film Don't Look Now (1973). On the small screen she took the leading role in Mistress of Hardwick, a ten-part BBC serial from 1972 about Bess of Hardwick. She was part of the pilot for Minder, Gunfight at the O.K. Laundrette, and had recurring spots in Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green; she also appeared in Ripping Yarns. In the 1985 BBC adaptation Miss Marple: The Moving Finger she played Emily Barton, and the following year she was Mrs Gummidge in David Copperfield. One episode of Juliet Bravo featured her as Mrs Unwin. Later she played Gladys in Maid Marian and her Merry Men and had a role in Aquila.