Jennifer Hilary
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Mary Hilary was a British actress of stage, film and television. Her first acclaimed stage performance was as "Milly" in Henry James
' The Wings of the Dove
, which marked her debut on the West End.
Hilary trained at RADA
, and began her acting career with the Liverpool Playhouse
in April 1961. Her first role was as Nina in The Seagull
. She would go on to play such characters as Lady Teazle (The School for Scandal
), Isabel (The Enchanted), Cilla Curtis (Amateur Means Lover) and Cecily Cardew (The Importance of Being Earnest
). She went on to act with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
.
She made her Broadway debut in Jean Anouilh
's The Rehearsal in 1963. The following year she played "Zoe" at the West End in James Saunders
' A Scent of Flowers. Michael Redgrave
included her in the cast of Turgenev's A Month in the Country
in 1965. She went on to play "Sasha" in Chekhov
's Ivanov at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway the following year.
In 1967, back in London, she played "Ginny" in the hit production of Alan Ayckbourn
's Relatively Speaking. Other appearances in London would include Samuel Taylor
's Avanti! (1968; which was later made into a film starring Jack Lemmon
and Juliet Mills), Dennis Cannan's Dear Daddy (1976), J.B. Priestley's I Have Been Here Before, and Dennis Potter
's Sufficient Carbohydrate (1983).
.
Henry James
Henry James, OM was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr., a clergyman, and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James....
' The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove is a 1902 novel by Henry James. This novel tells the story of Milly Theale, an American heiress stricken with a serious disease, and her impact on the people around her...
, which marked her debut on the West End.
Hilary trained at RADA
Royal 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...
, and began her acting career with the Liverpool Playhouse
Liverpool Playhouse
The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
in April 1961. Her first role was as Nina in The Seagull
The Seagull
The Seagull is the first of what are generally considered to be the four major plays by the Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov. The Seagull was written in 1895 and first produced in 1896...
. She would go on to play such characters as Lady Teazle (The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal is a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on May 8, 1777.The prologue, written by David Garrick, commends the play, its subject, and its author to the audience...
), Isabel (The Enchanted), Cilla Curtis (Amateur Means Lover) and Cecily Cardew (The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
). She went on to act with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
.
She made her Broadway debut in Jean Anouilh
Jean Anouilh
Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh was a French dramatist whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1943 play Antigone, an adaptation of Sophocles' Classical drama, that was seen as an attack on Marshal Pétain's...
's The Rehearsal in 1963. The following year she played "Zoe" at the West End in James Saunders
James Saunders
James Saunders was a prolific English playwright born in Islington, London. His early plays led to him being considered one of the leading British exponents of the Theatre of the Absurd.-Personal life:...
' A Scent of Flowers. Michael Redgrave
Michael Redgrave
Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave, CBE was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author.-Youth and education:...
included her in the cast of Turgenev's A Month in the Country
A Month in the Country (play)
A Month in the Country is a comedy in five acts by Ivan Turgenev. It was written in France between 1848 and 1850 and was first published in 1855...
in 1965. She went on to play "Sasha" in Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
's Ivanov at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway the following year.
In 1967, back in London, she played "Ginny" in the hit production of Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE is a prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their...
's Relatively Speaking. Other appearances in London would include Samuel Taylor
Samuel Taylor
Samuel Taylor may refer to:* Sam Taylor , British author* Sam Taylor , US musician* Sam Taylor , US film director and screenwriter...
's Avanti! (1968; which was later made into a film starring Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
and Juliet Mills), Dennis Cannan's Dear Daddy (1976), J.B. Priestley's I Have Been Here Before, and Dennis Potter
Dennis Potter
Dennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
's Sufficient Carbohydrate (1983).
Later years
Later in life she founded a specialist flower arranging business. She was called upon to provide striking floral arrangements for very special occasions, including actor Michael Williams's memorial service in 2001 at Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
Selected filmography
- Becket (1964)
- The Heroes of TelemarkThe Heroes of TelemarkThe Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 war film directed by Anthony Mann based on the true story of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during World War II...
(1965) - The IdolThe iDol (film)The iDol is a 2006 film from independent filmmaker Norman England. A science fiction satire filmed entirely in Japan, The iDol tells the story of a Japanese collector who comes into possession of a figure with origins not of this world....
(1966) - One Brief SummerOne Brief SummerOne Brief Summer is a 1970 British drama film directed by John Mackenzie. It stars Felicity Gibson and Clifford Evans. It was made at Twickenham Studios.-Cast:* Felicity Gibson as Susan Long* Clifford Evans as Mark Stevens* Jennifer Hilary as Jennifer...
(1970) - North Sea HijackNorth Sea HijackNorth Sea Hijack is a British action film from 1979 starring Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins, and Michael Parks. It was directed by Andrew V...
(1979) - Five Days One SummerFive Days One SummerFive Days One Summer is a 1982 drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Sean Connery. It was the last film that Zinnemann directed.-Cast:* Sean Connery - Douglas Meredith* Betsy Brantley - Kate* Lambert Wilson - Johann Biari...
(1982)