Eve Pearce
Encyclopedia
Eve Pearce is a Scottish actress. She has performed in many Royal Shakespeare Company
productions.
in 1948 and got married in her second term to James Ormerod. She began her acting career in 1950 in Preston Rep and in 1951 was part of the first season at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. She made many appearances in television in the sixties including a squatter with six children in Coronation Street. Her career now spans six decades, including many roles with the RSC
and in the West End, notably Amelia in Wild Oats and Rosamonde in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She played Gilbert's Mother in Mike Leigh's
Topsy-Turvy
. She had a one-woman play Woman in the Moon written for her by Avi Nassa - seen at Edinburgh, and has worked with Ursula Martinez as her older self in Ursula Martinez OAP.
Pearce is a published poet, often writing on her Scottish childhood. Her pamphlet Woman in Winter was published in 2007. She is a member of The Company of Elders and dances at Sadlers Wells.
productions including as Millicent in John O'Keeffe's play, Wild Oats at the Aldwych Theatre
in London with Alan Howard
, Zoë Wanamaker
, Lisa Harrow
, Simon Jones
, Norman Rodway
, Jeremy Irons
, Joe Melia
, and Ben Cross
in the cast. Clifford Williams was director.
In November 2006, she appeared in Torchwood
as Estelle Cole
who died after drowning in the rain.
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
productions.
Early life
Eve Pearce was born on 17 April 1929 in Aberdeen to a very poor family and was brought up in a one-roomed tenement, her mother dying when she was seven years old. When she was twelve her father re-married and she moved to London. She won an LCC Scholarship to RADARoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
in 1948 and got married in her second term to James Ormerod. She began her acting career in 1950 in Preston Rep and in 1951 was part of the first season at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. She made many appearances in television in the sixties including a squatter with six children in Coronation Street. Her career now spans six decades, including many roles with the RSC
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
and in the West End, notably Amelia in Wild Oats and Rosamonde in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She played Gilbert's Mother in Mike Leigh's
Mike Leigh
Michael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
Topsy-Turvy
Topsy-Turvy
Topsy-Turvy is a 1999 musical drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh and stars Allan Corduner as Arthur Sullivan and Jim Broadbent as W. S. Gilbert, along with Timothy Spall and Lesley Manville. The story concerns the 15-month period in 1884 and 1885 leading up to the premiere of Gilbert...
. She had a one-woman play Woman in the Moon written for her by Avi Nassa - seen at Edinburgh, and has worked with Ursula Martinez as her older self in Ursula Martinez OAP.
Pearce is a published poet, often writing on her Scottish childhood. Her pamphlet Woman in Winter was published in 2007. She is a member of The Company of Elders and dances at Sadlers Wells.
Career
She first came to role as Kipps as the lady assistant. She has acted in many Royal Shakespeare CompanyRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
productions including as Millicent in John O'Keeffe's play, Wild Oats at the Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Aldwych in the City of Westminster. The theatre was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200.-Origins:...
in London with Alan Howard
Alan Howard
Alan MacKenzie Howard, CBE, is an English actor known for his roles on stage, television and film.He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1983, and played leading roles at the Royal National Theatre between 1992 and 2000.-Personal life:Howard is the only son of the actor...
, Zoë Wanamaker
Zoe Wanamaker
Zoë Wanamaker, CBE is an American-British actress. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company; in films, including the Harry Potter series; and in a number of television productions, including a long-time role as Susan Harper in the sitcom My Family.-Early life and family:Wanamaker was...
, Lisa Harrow
Lisa Harrow
Lisa Harrow is an actress, noted for her roles in British theatre, films and television.- Early life :Harrow was born in Auckland and attended Auckland University...
, Simon Jones
Simon Jones (actor)
Simon Jones is an English actor, most famous for his appearances in the television and radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in which he played the lead role of Arthur Dent from 1978 to 2005...
, Norman Rodway
Norman Rodway
-Early life:Rodway was born in Dublin to English parents, Frank and Lillian Rodway. He studied classics, graduating at Trinity College. He worked as an accountant, teacher, and university lecturer before acting.-Career:...
, Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
, Joe Melia
Joe Melia
-Films:* Too Many Crooks * Follow a Star * The Intelligence Men * Four in the Morning * Modesty Blaise * Oh! What a Lovely War * Antony and Cleopatra * Sweeney!...
, and Ben Cross
Ben Cross
Ben Cross is a British actor of the stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
in the cast. Clifford Williams was director.
In November 2006, she appeared in Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
as Estelle Cole
Small Worlds (Torchwood)
"Small Worlds" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. It is the fifth episode of the first series, which was broadcast on 12 November 2006...
who died after drowning in the rain.