Gillian Elisa

Last updated

Gillian Elisa
Born
Gillian Elizabeth Thomas

(1953-08-10) 10 August 1953 (age 70)
Carmarthen, Wales
Alma mater Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1978-present

Gillian Elizabeth Thomas (born 10 August 1953) is a Welsh actress, singer, and comedian. Early in her career she was known as Gillian Elisa Thomas.

Contents

Early life and education

Elisa was born in Carmarthen, Wales, and brought up in Lampeter; [1] she began acting before she started school. As a sixth-former at Ysgol Gyfun Llanbedr-Pont Steffan in Lampeter, she co-wrote a Welsh-language musical, Yr Enfys (The Rainbow). After leaving school, she studied at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Career

In 1975, she was chosen by producer Endaf Emlyn to play the lead in a Welsh-language rock opera. [1] Since that time, she has been a well-known figure on Welsh-language television.

On S4C television, she played (1974–2010) the part of Sabrina Daniels in the long-running soap Pobol y Cwm [2] and the comic character "Mrs O.T.T." in the variety entertainment programme Noson Lawen . She appeared in the gangster drama series Y Pris . She has performed one-woman comedy shows at the Edinburgh Festival. As a singer, she has completed three albums of new and traditional Welsh songs Rhywbeth yn y Glas, Haul ar Nos Hir, and Lawr Y Lein, as well as appearing on a number of other recordings.

She is best known to English-speaking audiences for her leading role in the 2018 drama series Hidden , which was filmed in both Welsh and English, [3] Elisa travelled around Wales with fellow actress Ruth Jones as part of the Welsh language show Iath Ar Daith, which shows celebrities learning the Welsh and putting it to practice.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Coming Up Roses Sian
1991Body BeautifulSonia / Shopkeeper / Beryl's Mom
1997 Twin Town Pat
1999 The Last Seduction II Barbara
2012Rain: An Original MusicalMrs. Coots
2014 Billy Elliot the Musical Live Alternate Grandma / Ensemble
20192nd Date SexVal
2022 Save the Cinema Town clerk

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 Hawkmoor ElinorEpisode #1.2
1978DylanLady in Swansea pubTelevision film
1979Heyday in the BloodBeti
1979Border Country
1980, 2004 Pobol y Cwm Sabrina Daniels2 episodes
1981 The Life and Times of David Lloyd George Anita4 episodes
1981 Taff Acre Yvonne Jenkins10 episodes
1984 The Magnificent Evans DorindaEpisode #1.2
1988The Snow SpiderMrs. Davies2 episodes
1990 Screen One PhoebeEpisode: "Sticky Wickets"
1991A Mind to KillWPS AlisonTelevision film
1992 Forever Green Mary PowellEpisode #2.9
1992 The Winter Stallion Mrs. HowardTelevision film
1994–1997 A Mind to Kill WPS Alison13 episodes
1995, 1996 Gogs Voice2 episodes
1998 Mortimer's Law Jane Harris
2007 High Hopes ChlamydiaEpisode: "Dead Man Walking"
2007 Y Pris Anne5 episodes
2007, 2009 Gavin & Stacey Welsh Nationalist / Lingerie Lady2 episodes
2009Ar y TracsEluned HughesTelevision film
2010 Sherlock Surgery ReceptionistEpisode: "The Blind Banker"
2011Ar y Tracs: Y Tren i'r GemEluned HughesTelevision film
2011 Zanzibar EirionaEpisode #1.6
2011–2012 Alys Heulwen16 episodes
2015–2017 Stella Nana Pat / Mrs. Evans6 episodes
2017 Bang Liz2 episodes
2018 Hidden Iona Harris7 episodes
201935 AwrVal8 episodes
2020 Holby City Grace AllanEpisode #22.14
2021 The Pact Gwen3 episodes
2021JamMags4 episodes

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References

  1. 1 2 "Gillian Elisa - Biography". Sain. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  2. "Pobol y Cwm actress helps at annual gala". WalesOnline. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. Lydia Morris (16 June 2018). "There's a big problem with the accents in BBC One's new crime drama Hidden according to some viewers". Daily Post. Retrieved 13 December 2018.