Zena Walker
Encyclopedia
Zena Walker was an English actress in film, theatre, and television.
Walker was born in Birmingham, the daughter of George Walker, a grocer
, and his wife Elizabeth Louise (née Hammond). She attended St. Martin's School in 1960 and then went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
. She starred in an adaptation
of A. J. Cronin
's novel, The Citadel
. Her most memorable performance is considered that of a mother in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
, a 1969 black comedy by Peter Nichols
about a handicapped child. Between 1970 and 1972 she appeared in the television series Man at the Top
as Susan Lampton.
Walker married twice, both times to actors: Robert Urquhart
and later Julian Holloway
. She died in 2003 in Brockenhurst
, Hampshire
, aged 69, from undisclosed causes. Her last role was as the messenger in Oedipus
.
Walker was born in Birmingham, the daughter of George Walker, a grocer
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
, and his wife Elizabeth Louise (née Hammond). She attended St. Martin's School in 1960 and then went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
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...
. She starred in an adaptation
The Citadel (1960 British miniseries)
The Citadel is a 1960 British television adaptation of A. J. Cronin's 1937 novel, The Citadel. The series was directed by John Frankau and produced by Peter Graham Scott. It starred Eric Lander as Dr. Andrew Manson, and Zena Walker as Christine, his wife...
of A. J. Cronin
A. J. Cronin
Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known works are Hatter's Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years, all of which were adapted to film. He also created the Dr...
's novel, The Citadel
The Citadel (novel)
The Citadel is a novel by A. J. Cronin, first published in 1937, which was groundbreaking with its treatment of the contentious theme of medical ethics. It is credited with laying the foundation in Great Britain for the introduction of the NHS a decade later...
. Her most memorable performance is considered that of a mother in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg is a 1967 play by English playwright Peter Nichols, first staged at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland before transferring to London's West End theatres in 1968.-Plot summary:Characters* Bri* Grace* Joe* Freddie...
, a 1969 black comedy by Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols FRSL is an English writer of stage plays, film and television.Born in Bristol, England, he was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and served his compulsory National Service as a clerk in Calcutta and later in the Combined Services Entertainments Unit in Singapore where he...
about a handicapped child. Between 1970 and 1972 she appeared in the television series Man at the Top
Man at the Top (TV series)
Man at the Top was a British television series originally aired on ITV lasting for 23 episodes between 1970-1972 . The series depicted the character of Joe Lampton, the protagonist of John Braine's novel Room at the Top and two films Room at the Top and Life at the Top...
as Susan Lampton.
Walker married twice, both times to actors: Robert Urquhart
Robert Urquhart (actor)
Robert Urquhart was a Scottish character actor who mainly worked in British television during his career.He was born in Ullapool, Scotland on 16 October 1921, educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh and made his stage debut in 1947...
and later Julian Holloway
Julian Holloway
Julian Holloway is an English actor now based in Hollywood, CA, United States. He is the son of the comedy actor and singer Stanley Holloway and former chorus dancer and actress Violet Lane...
. She died in 2003 in Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst is a village situated in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. The New Forest is a national park and Brockenhurst is therefore surrounded by woodland that attracts thousands of visitors all year round. The nearby towns surrounding Brockenhurst are Lymington and Lyndhurst. Brockenhurst...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, aged 69, from undisclosed causes. Her last role was as the messenger in Oedipus
Oedipus
Oedipus was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. He fulfilled a prophecy that said he would kill his father and marry his mother, and thus brought disaster on his city and family...
.
Filmography
- Snowball (1960)
- Danger TomorrowDanger TomorrowDanger Tomorrow is a 1960 British crime film directed by Terry Bishop and starring Zena Walker, Robert Urquhart and Rupert Davies.-Cast:* Zena Walker - Ginny Murray* Robert Urquhart - Bob Murray* Rupert Davies - Dr...
(1960) - The Hellions (1961)
- Emergency (1962)
- The TraitorsThe Traitors (1962 film)The Traitors is a 1962 British thriller film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Patrick Allen, Jacqueline Ellis, Zena Walker and James Maxwell.-Cast:* Patrick Allen - John Lane* Jacqueline Ellis - Mary* James Maxwell - Ray Ellis...
(1962) - The Marked OneThe Marked OneThe Marked One is a 1963 British crime film directed by Francis Searle and starring William Lucas, Zena Walker and Patrick Jordan. A forger's daughter is threatened by other criminals, focing him to take drastic action.-Cast:* William Lucas - Don Mason...
(1963) - Sammy Going SouthSammy Going SouthSammy Going South, retitled A Boy Ten Feet Tall for its later US release, is a 1963 British adventure film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, photographed by Erwin Hillier, and starring Edward G. Robinson, Fergus McClelland and Constance Cummings. The film was based on a novel by W.H. Canaway and...
(1963) - Girl in the HeadlinesGirl in the HeadlinesGirl in the Headlines is a 1963 British detective film directed by Michael Truman and starring Ian Hendry, Ronald Fraser, Jeremy Brett and Jane Asher.-Cast:* Ian Hendry - Inspector Birkett* Ronald Fraser - Sergeant Saunders* Margaret Johnston - Mrs Gray...
(1963) - Troubled WatersTroubled Waters (1964 film)Troubled Waters is a 1964 British crime film directed by Stanley Goulder and starring Tab Hunter, Zena Walker and Andy Myers. It was also released as Man with Two Faces...
(1964) - Daylight Robbery (1964)
- The ReckoningThe Reckoning (1969 film)The Reckoning is a 1969 British drama film directed by Jack Gold and starring Nicol Williamson, Ann Bell and Lilita De Barros. A high-flying London businessman has to return to his working-class Liverpool roots when he returns to the city following a death in the family.-Cast:* Nicol Williamson -...
(1969) - The Last Shot You HearThe Last Shot You HearThe Last Shot You Hear is a 1969 British thriller film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Hugh Marlowe, Zena Walker, Patricia Haines, William Dysart and Thorley Walters....
(1969) - CromwellCromwell (film)Cromwell is a 1970 film, based on the life of Oliver Cromwell who led the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and, as Lord Protector, ruled Great Britain and Ireland in the 1650s. It features an all-star cast led by Richard Harris as Cromwell and Alec Guinness as King Charles I...
(1970) - Hændeligt uheld (1971)
- The Chairman's WifeThe Chairman's WifeThe Chairman's Wife is a 1971 British short drama film directed by Gerry O'Hara and starring David de Keyser, Fiona Lewis and John Osborne. The wife of a company's chairman stages her own kidnapping in order to gain money...
(1971) - The Likely LadsThe Likely Lads (film)The Likely Lads is a 1976 British comedy film directed by Michael Tuchner, starring James Bolam and Rodney Bewes. It's a spin-off from the popular 1960s British television series The Likely Lads, from which it takes its title, though in fact it's closer in tone to the more recent sequel series...
(1976) - The DresserThe DresserThe Dresser is a 1983 film which tells the story of an aging actor's personal assistant, who struggles to keep his charge's life together. It is based on a screenplay by Ronald Harwood, in turn based on his successful 1980 West End and Broadway play of the same name.The film was directed by Peter...
(1983)