Siân Phillips
Biography
Siân Phillips is a Welsh actress who began performing professionally at eleven on BBC Radio in Wales and trained at RADA on a scholarship, where she won the Bancroft Gold Medal for Hedda Gabler. Born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in South Wales, she took her degree from the University of Wales in 1955 and became known for leading stage roles in Hedda Gabler and Saint Joan. On screen she is best known for playing Livia in the BBC adaptation of I, Claudius, a performance that earned her a BAFTA and a Royal Television Society award, and she appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in Becket and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Her later films include the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam in David Lynch's Dune and Queen Cassiopeia in Clash of the Titans. She was nominated for a Tony and an Olivier for portraying Marlene Dietrich in Marlene, and was appointed a dame in 2016.
93years old
Turns 94 on May 14in 185 days
- Born Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 15
- Career span
- 56 years1964 to 2020
Genres
First and latest
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First role
Phillips started her professional acting career at 11 with BBC Radio's Home Service in Wales. That same year, 1944, brought her a first speech-and-drama award at the National Eisteddfod in Llandybïe, for a duologue in which she and a school friend portrayed two elderly men.
Early training
Phillips started at RADA in September 1955 with a scholarship, alongside Diana Rigg and Glenda Jackson. She earned the Bancroft Gold Medal for her Hedda Gabler.
A role that slipped away
While still a RADA student, Phillips was offered three film contracts for extended work in the United States and turned them down, preferring stage work.
First role
Phillips first appeared on the London stage in 1957, playing the lead in Hermann Sudermann's Magda for RADA. Though still a student, she was the first to take the role since Sarah Bernhardt.
A role that slipped away
Phillips was cast as the older Briony Tallis in the Chichester Festival Theatre world premiere of Atonement, running from 29 May to 20 June 2026, but she withdrew shortly before it opened and Jessica Turner took the part.
Beyond film
Phillips did spoken-word backing on a track from Rufus Wainwright's 2007 album Release the Stars. That same year, she joined him on stage at London's Old Vic Theatre.
Siân Phillips movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Herbert Ross directed two of these films. Peter O'Toole appears in four 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
Peter O'Toole's page
Patrick Stewart's page
Jonathan Pryce's page
Maggie Smith's page
Richard Burton's page
Penelope Wilton's page
Herbert RossDirector, 2 films, 1969 to 1980
All films by Herbert Ross
Also two films together4 more actors
- Michael RedgraveGoodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) and Young Cassidy (1965)
- Ronald LaceyValmont (1989) and Nijinsky (1980)
- Flora RobsonClash of the Titans (1981) and Young Cassidy (1965)
- T.P. McKennaValmont (1989) and Young Cassidy (1965)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Siân Phillips's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$122 million
7 of the 15 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 15 films: 7 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 7Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Highest grossing
The seven biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$41M33.7% of the total
- 2$32M26.4% of the total
- 3$32M25.8% of the total
- 4$9.1M7.5% of the total
- 5$6.4M5.3% of the total
- 6$1.1M0.9% of the total
- 7$504K0.4% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
| Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.