Judy Matheson

Last updated

Judy Matheson
Alma mater New College of Speech and Drama
OccupationsActress, television continuity announcer
Years active1967–present
Spouse
(m. 1967,divorced)

Judy Matheson is a British actress notable for her appearances in several horror films in the 1970s. She also appeared in many other films and television series.

Contents

Career

Raised in Essex and trained at the New College of Speech and Drama, [1] Matheson began her career in 1967 with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company with which she toured the United States, including a season on Broadway, and Canada, followed by Europe and Israel, in three of Shakespeare's plays, the highlight of which was Sir Tyrone Guthrie's production of Measure for Measure .

In 1967, Matheson signed with talent agency Hazel Malone Management. Her debut film The Chairman (The Most Dangerous Man in the World), starred Gregory Peck. She was chosen to star in the Spanish film The Exquisite Cadaver (Las Crueles) with Capucine, directed by Vicente Aranda, in 1969, which was showcased as the Spanish entry at the San Sebastian Film Festival. In 1970, she was invited to play Helen Mirren's friend in John Goldschmidt's documentary Doing Her Own Thing about Mirren's early years at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 1971 she starred opposite Freddie Jones in Charles Wood's experimental drama The Emergence of Anthony Purdy, Esq. directed by Patrick Dromgoole for Harlech Television. [2] It was chosen that year as ITV's entry in the Monte Carlo TV Festival. In the 1970s, she appeared in the Hammer Horror films Lust for a Vampire and Twins of Evil . [3] Her other films include The Flesh and Blood Show , The House That Vanished (also known as Scream and Die), Crucible of Terror , Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Percy's Progress . [4]

Matheson's television work includes City '68 , Spindoe , Coronation Street , Z-Cars (twice, leading female), Crossroads , (Hugh Mortimer's secretary and Sandy's girlfriend), Harriet's Back in Town , The Adventurer , Dead of Night , The Professionals , The Sweeney , Shelley (BBC film of the poet, opposite Robert Powell and directed by Alan Bridges), Blake's 7 and Citizen Smith . [5]

She returned to the big screen for a cameo in the 2020 feature film The Haunting of Margam Castle, starring Derren Nesbitt, Jane Merrow and Caroline Munro, directed by Andrew Jones for North Bank Entertainment. [6] [ failed verification ] She undertook the narration for "Mary Millington on Location", part of the special features for the Mary Millington box set released by Screenbound Entertainment, released in 2020. [7]

Selected credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969 The Chairman StudentUncredited
The Exquisite Cadaver Esther
1971 Lust for a Vampire Amanda McBride
Twins of Evil Woodman's Daughter
Crucible of Terror Marcia
1972 The Flesh and Blood Show Jane
1973 The House That Vanished Lorna Collins
1974 Confessions of a Window Cleaner Elvie
Percy's Progress Maria
1976High as a KiteGirl
2017FrankulaVera VomitShort film
2019VampirellaNarratorVoice
2021Joe's JourneyJoe's wifeShort film
2024DragonMadame DrakainaShort film
2025 A Working Man Elegant DinerUncredited

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1967 City '68 Len's girlfriendEpisode: "The Shooting War"
1968 Spindoe Maid2 episodes
B-And-B PretaEpisode: "Come to the Aid of the Party"
1969 Coronation Street NurseEpisode: "#1.924"
1970The Emergence of Anthony Purdy, Esq.PhillipaTV film
1972 Shelley Jane WilliamsTV film
Dead of Night TessaEpisode: "Two in the Morning"
1973 The Adventurer Claire AdamsEpisode: "Full Fathom Five"
Harriet's Back in Town Sarah Chivers4 episodes
1976 Z-Cars TerriEpisode: "The Frighteners"
The Sweeney Kibber's GirlfriendEpisode: "Selected Target"
1977 Crossroads Vicky Lambert13 episodes
1978 The Professionals Mandy MitchellEpisode: "Long Shot"
Z-Cars Miss AndrewsEpisode: "Rummage"
1979 Citizen Smith CarolineEpisode: "The Party's Over"
1980 Blake's 7 MutoidEpisode: "Volcano"
2020Bruised SkyJudyEpisode: "Spy"
The Haunting of Margam CastleAgathaTV film
2021The Lives of Frankie AbbotGraceBoth episodes
What Did You Do in the War, Mama? Mrs Lloyd George TV film
2023Saucy! Secrets of The British Sex ComedyHerselfInterviewee

References

  1. "Hammer Horror at 80: Kentish Town Actress Tells How Students Now Do PhDs on Her Films". camdennewjournal.co.uk . 29 October 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  2. "The Emergence of Anthony Purdy Esq., Farmer's Labourer (1970)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021.
  3. "Preview: London Film Memorabilia Convention Hammer and Horror Film Day, 9th November 2013". thedarksidemagazine.com . Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  4. "Judy Matheson". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
  5. "Judy Matheson". www.aveleyman.com.
  6. "The Haunting of Margam Castle". www.bbfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021.
  7. "The Mary Millington Movie Collection Blu-Ray". www.dvdbeaver.com.