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Georgina Hale

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Georgina Hale
Hale (right) and actor Murray Melvin in 2007
Born
Georgina Hale

(1943-08-04)4 August 1943
Ilford, Essex, England
Died4 January 2024(2024-01-04) (aged 80)
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1963–2016
SpouseJohn Forgeham (1964 – c. 1969)[a]
AwardsBAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles

Georgina Hale (4 August 1943 – 4 January 2024) was a British actress. In a career spanning six decades, her credits include work in radio, stage, film, and television. She was the recipient of such accolades as a British Academy Film Award, in addition to a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award. In 2010, she was listed as one of ten great British character actors by The Guardian.[3]

Early life and education

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Georgina Hale was born in Ilford, Essex, to publicans Elsie (née Fordham) and George Robert Hole. She later said that she had:

...a really bad education. I couldn't write, spell, or read, so it was a real problem, because that sort of thing wasn't acknowledged then. There was a real shame in it, and you were the dunce of the class, always getting whacked around the head. We were on the move a lot as well, so going to so many schools, always being the new girl, it was so frightening and so nerve-wracking as a kid, and it really affected me.[4]

As a teenager, she worked as an apprentice hairdresser and studied Stanislavski's method approach to acting at a fledgling studio, the Chelsea Actors' Workshop, in London,[5] and subsequently was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she graduated in 1965.[6]

Acting career

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Stage

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In 1965, Hale made her professional debut playing unnamed parts with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1965.[7] She appeared in repertory theatre at Canterbury, Windsor and Ipswich, then at the Playhouse in Liverpool, in 1967, where her parts included the title role in Gigi and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. At the Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead in October 1975, she played Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, followed by a portrayal of Nina in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Playhouse in July 1976, making her West End debut in the production when it transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in August 1976.[8] Other roles included Marie Caroline David in The Tribades (Hampstead Theatre Club, May 1978); Melanie in Boo Hoo (Open Space Theatre, July 1978); and Bobbi Michele in Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Royal Exchange, Manchester, April 1979 – transferring to the Criterion Theatre in November 1979).

In 1981, Hale played the leading role of Josie in Nell Dunn's play Steaming at the Comedy Theatre in London and received a nomination for a 1981 Olivier Award.[9] In 1982, she appeared with Annette Crosbie and Richard O'Callaghan in a production of Noël Coward's Star Quality at the Theatre Royal, Bath. In April 1983 she starred opposite Glenda Jackson and Gary Oldman in Summit Conference at the Lyric Theatre, London, playing Benito Mussolini's mistress Clara Petacci. Later that year, she starred with Colin Blakely, Jane Carr and Paul Eddington in the play Lovers Dancing, directed by Donald McWhinnie, at the Noël Coward Theatre. She followed with roles in two productions at The Old Vic: Aricia in Phédre (1984) and Crystal Allen in The Women (1985).

In 1991, Hale starred opposite Glenda Jackson in Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill,at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. In 1993, she appeared in a production of Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular at the Theatre Royal, Bath. In 1994, she appeared opposite Rupert Everett in a production of Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. In 1997, she appeared opposite Alan Bates in Life Support by Simon Gray at the Aldwych Theatre in London. Critic Sheridan Morley wrote in The New York Times that Hale, as the bed-bound Gwen, was "supremely touching even in almost total paralysis".[10]

Other stage appearances include The Guardsman at the Noël Coward Theatre (2000), where critic Sheridan Morley noted that Hale added "superbly timed comic support",[11] Semi-Monde at the Lyric Theatre (2001), Britannicus and as Madame Ranevsky in The Cherry Orchard at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre (both 2002), and Chéri and Take a Chance on Me at the New End Theatre (both 2003).

Hale's final stage role was that of Nell in a production of Samuel Beckett's Endgame at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and then the Barbican Centre, London, as part of the Beckett Centenary Festival in May 2006.

Film

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In 1971, Hale made her film debut as Betsy Balcombe in the historical drama Eagle in a Cage. Roger Greenspun of The New York Times noted that, at age 24, Hale displayed "a kind of mature intensity that argues for at least 30 years' experience on the stage".[12]

Hale appeared as Alma Mahler in Ken Russell's Mahler (1974), opposite Robert Powell as Gustav Mahler. Her performance was called "excellent" by both Time Out and Radio Times, and earned her the 1975 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.[13][14][15] Stephen Farber of Film Comment wrote:

Georgina Hale gives an electric performance as Alma. She is touchingly vulnerable in all the flashback sequences, while in the scenes on the train she presents a completely different side of Alma’s character-a supremely bitter, savagely sarcastic shrew. Alma’s imperious, ice-cold facade is the mask she has chiseled to conceal her frustration and disappointment over the stifling of her creative potential. The tension is palpable: We can feel the anger and pain seething beneath her sardonic exterior.[16]

Hale also made appearances in a number of Russell's other films, with roles in The Devils (1971), The Boy Friend (1971), Lisztomania (1975), Valentino (1977), and Treasure Island (1995). Russell later referred to Hale as "an actress of such sensitivity that she can make the hair rise on your arms".[17]

Hale played a supporting role in the romantic drama The World is Full of Married Men (1979), based on the novel of the same name by Jackie Collins. Variety noted that Hale was "effective as a laconic wife who’s come to terms with the sexcess scene".[18]

Hale had a small role in the film The Watcher in the Woods (1980), starring Bette Davis. Hale took the role of the younger version of Davis' character largely because of her admiration for Davis.[19]

Her other film appearances included supporting roles in Butley (1974), Sweeney 2 (1978), McVicar (1980), Castaway (1986), Preaching to the Perverted (1997), Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont (2005), and Cockneys vs Zombies (2011).

Television

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Hale's television career spanned six decades. Her first major television appearances were supporting roles in plays filmed for The Wednesday Play, ITV Playhouse and ITV Play of the Week. Recurring roles in primetime series followed, first opposite Adam Faith in Budgie (1971) as his wayward wife, and then as Lili Dietrich in the miniseries The Strauss Family (1972).

In 1973, she starred in A.D.A.M. as a physically disabled woman who develops an unusual relationship with the sentient computer system that controls her home. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the drama was broadcast as part of the ITV Sunday Night Drama anthology strand. In 1975, Hale appeared in two television plays written by Simon Gray, broadcast as part of the BBC series Play for Today. These were Plaintiffs and Defendants and Two Sundays. In 1978, Hale appeared with Michael Gambon in the BBC Play of the Month adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. In 1980, Hale portrayed Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, in an episode of the drama series Ladykillers.

In 1990, Hale succeeded Elizabeth Estensen in the eponymous role of T-Bag, the villainous, tea-drinking sorceress in a succession of children's adventure series produced by Thames Television. Hale played the role in four series and two Christmas specials broadcast between 1990 and 1992.

In December 1992, Hale appeared in two television plays produced by Simon Curtis, broadcast as part of the anthology series Performance. These were Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author and Terence Rattigan's After the Dance.

In 1994, Hale appeared in the sitcom pilot The Honeymoon's Over, written by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson, broadcast as part of the Comic Asides anthology strand on BBC Two.

In 2007, Hale made a guest appearance in the crime drama The Commander. Television critic Nancy Banks-Smith noted in The Guardian that Hale "was able to do wonders with a mere sliver of a scene".[20]

Other television appearances include guest starring roles in Upstairs, Downstairs (1975), Minder (1980), Hammer House of Horror (1980), the Doctor Who serial The Happiness Patrol (1988), One Foot in the Grave (1990), Murder Most Horrid (1994), The Bill (2002), Emmerdale (2006), Hollyoaks (2010–2011), Crime Stories (2012) and Holby City (2016).

Personal life and death

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Hale married actor John Forgeham in 1964, but they later divorced.

She died on 4 January 2024, at the age of 80.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1971 The Devils Phillippe Trincant Ken Russell
The Boy Friend Fay Ken Russell
1972 Eagle in a Cage Betsy Balcombe Fielder Cook
1973 The Love Ban Joyce Ralph Thomas
1974 Mahler Alma Mahler Ken Russell BAFTA Film Award for Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Butley Carol Heasman Harold Pinter
1975 Lisztomania Ken Russell Uncredited appearance
1976 Voyage of the Damned Lotte Schulman Stuart Rosenberg
1977 Valentino Ken Russell Uncredited appearance
1978 Sweeney 2 Switchboard Girl Tom Clegg
1979 The World Is Full of Married Men Lori Grossman Robert Young
1980 The Watcher in the Woods Young Mrs Aylwood John Hough
McVicar Kate Tom Clegg
1981 The French Lieutenant's Woman Actress at Wrap Party Karel Reisz
Waiting Room The Woman Anwar Kawadri Short film
1986 Castaway Sister Saint Margaret Nicolas Roeg
1988 Dogplant Professor Joe Fordham Short film
1991 A Future in Fish Mother Jon East Short film
1994 Beyond Bedlam Sister Romulus Vadim Jean
1995 Jackson: My Life... Your Fault Josephine Duncan Roy
1997 Preaching to the Perverted Miss Wilderspin Stuart Urban
1998 Gamal Abd El Naser Lady Eden Anwar Kawadri
2002 AKA Elizabeth of Lithuania Duncan Roy
2003 Photo Finish Therapist Douglas McFerran
2005 Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont Shirley Burton Dan Ireland
2012 Cockneys vs Zombies Doreen Matthias Hoene
2015 Angel Iris Ray Burdis

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 Way off Beat Jill The Wednesday Play
1967 Cross My Heart and Hope She'll Die Ruth Drama '67
Strike Pay Maud Wharmby ITV Play of the Week: Stories of D.H. Lawrence
1968 The Judge Pat Dean ITV Playhouse
Camille 68 Nanine ITV Playhouse
1969 The Back of Beyond Enid Clarke W. Somerset Maugham (BBC series)
Men of Iron Mary Ann Play of Today (BBC)
1970 Special Branch Lisa Episode: Love from Doris
Menace The Girl episode: Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1971–1972 Budgie Jean episodes: Brains, Dreaming of Thee, and And the Lord Taketh Away
1972 The Strauss Family Lili Dietrich miniseries
1973 A.D.A.M. Jean Empson ITV Sunday Night Theatre
Only Make Believe Sandra George Play for Today (BBC)
1974 Electra Chrysothemis Play of the Month (BBC)
Notorious Woman Solange Dudevant-Sand
Occupations Polya
Affairs of the Heart Lola Skinner episode: Adela
1975 Plaintiffs and Defendants Joanna Play for Today
Two Sundays Hilary Play for Today
Children of the Sun Fran Play for Today
Upstairs, Downstairs Violet Marshall episode: An Old Flame
Affairs of the Heart Daisy Miller episode: Daisy
1976 The Author of Beltraffio Beatrice Ambient
East Lynne Afy Halljohn
1976-1977 Yes, Honestly Georgina episodes: Three's None and We've Never Sailed the Amazon, We've Never Reached Brazil
1977 The Late Wife Andrea ITV Sunday Night Drama
1978 The Seagull Masha Play of the Month
1980 Minder Renee episode: The Beer Hunter
Lady Killers Ruth Ellis Episode: Lucky, Lucky Thirteen
Hammer House of Horror Stella episode: The Mark of Satan
1981 Eden End Lilian Kirby Celebrity Playhouse
1987 Boon Alison episode: A Fistful of Pesetas
1988 Doctor Who Daisy K The Happiness Patrol, episodes 1, 2 and 3
Gems Lynne 36 episodes, series 3
1989 Murder by Moonlight Allison Quinney TV film
1990 T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom Tabatha Bag
One Foot in the Grave April Bluett episode: Love and Death
T-Bag's Christmas Ding Dong Tabatha Bag
1991 T-Bag and the Rings of Olympus Tabatha Bag
Magic Andrea Watson
T-Bag's Christmas Turkey Tabatha Bag
1992 The Count of Solar Countess Solar Screen Two
T-Bag and the Sunstones of Montezuma Tabatha Bag
After the Dance Moya Lexington Performance
Take off with T-Bag Tabatha Bag
Six Characters in Search of an Author Leading Actress Performance
1993 The Detectives Irene Mazola episode: Strangers in Paradise
1994 Murder Most Horrid Lady Jamieson episode: A Severe Case of Death
The Bill Julie Stone episodes: Living Legend and Inquest
The Honeymoon's Over Norma sitcom pilot for BBC Two
1995 Treasure Island Mrs. Hawkins TV film
Crown Prosecutor Maureen Sherman 1 episode
1998 A Rather English Marriage Sabrina's Maid TV film
2000 Casualty Janet Henbury episode: Choked
2002 Trial & Retribution Tammy Delaney 1 episode
The Bill Marilyn Costello episodes: Code of Conduct, Seeing Red, and Little White Lies
2005 Murder Investigation Team Woman episode: Professional
2006 Emmerdale Beryl Chugspoke 4 episodes
2007 The Commander Vivienne Littlewood episode: The Devil You Know
2010–2011 Hollyoaks Blanche Longford 7 episodes
2012 Crime Stories Sally Woods Episode: Family
2016 Holby City Serephina Moore episode: On the Ropes

Stage

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Year Title Role Venue
1965 The Comedy of Errors Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The Jew of Malta Aldwych Theatre
1966 The Knight of the Burning Pestle Luce Marlowe Theatre
Tamburlaine Anippe Marlowe Theatre
1975 Pygmalion Eliza Doolittle Thorndike Theatre
1976 The Seagull Nina Duke of York's Theatre
1978 The Tribades Marie Caroline David Hampstead Theatre
Boo Hoo Melanie Open Space Theatre
1979 Last of the Red Hot Lovers Bobbi Michele Royal Exchange, Manchester & Criterion Theatre
1981 Steaming Josie Comedy Theatre
1982 Summit Conference Clara Petacci Lyric Theatre
Star Quality Theatre Royal, Bath
1983 Lovers Dancing Cheryl Albery Theatre
1984 Phèdre Aricia The Old Vic
1985 The Women Crystal Allen The Old Vic
Copperhead Lucille Bush Theatre
1988 Ear, Nose & Throat Mavis Theatre Royal, Brighton
1991 Mourning Becomes Electra Lavinia Mannon Glasgow Citizens Theatre
1993 Absurd Person Singular Marion Brewster-Wright Theatre Royal, Bath
1994 The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore Witch of Capri Glasgow Citizens Theatre
1997 Life Support Gwen Aldwych Theatre
2000 The Guardsman Mother Albery Theatre
2001 Semi-Monde Suzanne Fellini Lyric Theatre
2002 Britannicus Albina Glasgow Citizens Theatre
The Cherry Orchard Madame Ranevsky Glasgow Citizens Theatre
2003 Chéri Mademoiselle Poussier New End Theatre
Take a Chance on Me Lorraine New End Theatre
2006 Endgame Nell Gate Theatre & Barbican Centre

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1975 British Academy Film Award Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles Mahler Won
1981 Laurence Olivier Award Best Comedy Performance Steaming Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ England and Wales Marriage Registration Index lists Hale and Forgeham's marriage as being registered in 1964.[1] An obituary for Forgeham published by The Guardian notes his subsequent remarriage in 1970.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005", database, FamilySearch (8 October 2014), Georgina A Hole and null, 1964; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005", database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com: 2012); citing 1964, quarter 1, vol. 5C, p. 1841, Hampstead, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
  2. ^ Hayward, Anthony (13 March 2017). "John Forgeham obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  3. ^ Younger, Kevin (3 August 2010). "Looks Familiar: 10 great British character actors". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  4. ^ Cooper, Neil (5 March 2002). "Opposites Attract". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  5. ^ – recollections in biography, 2009, Mim Scala
  6. ^ "Student and Graduate Profiles". Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  7. ^ Resource: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Photograph and cast, Comedy of Errors, May 1965 [1]
  8. ^ Who's Who in the Theatre, 17th edition (1981)
  9. ^ "1981 Olivier Award Nominees". Olivierawards.com. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  10. ^ Morley, Sheridan (13 August 1997). "Return of Butley in 'Life Support'". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  11. ^ "LONDON THEATER: An 'Itch' for Nostalgia, Just for the Starstruck". The New York Times. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  12. ^ Greenspun, Roger (10 January 1972). "'Eagle in a Cage': Exile of Napoleon Is Subject of Romance". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Mahler". timeout.com. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Mahler". Radio Times. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  15. ^ "1975 Bafta Winners". bafta.org. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  16. ^ Farber, Stephen (November 1975). "Russellmania!". Film Comment. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  17. ^ "The Actresses Who Have Bewitched Me - Ken Russell". thetimes. London. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  18. ^ Variety Staff (January 1979). "The World Is Full of Married Men | Variety". variety.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  19. ^ Hough, John (2002). The Watcher in the Woods (DVD). Anchor Bay Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures.
  20. ^ "The Weekend's TV". theguardian.com. London. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  21. ^ Hayward, Anthony (10 January 2024). "Georgina Hale obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

Further reading

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[edit]
Awards and achievements
BAFTA Award
Preceded by Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
for Mahler
1974 		Succeeded by
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