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Zienia Merton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1945 |
| Died | 14 September 2018 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Arts Educational School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1962–2018 |
| Television | Space: 1999 Doctor Who |
Zienia Merton (11 December 1945 – 14 September 2018) [1] [2] [3] [4] was a British actress born in Burma. She was known for playing Sandra Benes in Space: 1999 . [5] [6] [7]
Merton was the daughter of Minny and Cecil Burton. Her mother was Burmese, and her father was a half-English, half-French merchant. She was raised in Singapore, Portugal and England. She was educated at first in Portugal, but was later sent to Arts Educational school (today the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts) in Hertfordshire. [5] Her first stage performance was as a dancer (playing a rat) in a Christmas 1957 production of The Nutcracker ballet at the Royal Festival Hall. [5]
Merton's first significant science-fiction credit was as Ping-Cho in the 1964 Doctor Who story Marco Polo , [8] long since lost in its original form. Her other early television appearances included Strange Report (1968), The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) and Jason King (1971). She was a lead actress as Christina in the 1971 Dennis Potter TV adaptation of Casanova with Frank Finlay, [8] and appeared on The Benny Hill Show in 1972, playing the wife of Hill's Chow Mein character. Her film roles included a brief appearance as an Asian high priestess in the Beatles' film Help! (1965), as Ting Ling in the film The Chairman (1969) with Gregory Peck, and The Adventurers (1970).
Probably her most notable role is that of Sandra Benes in Space: 1999 , the science fiction series produced by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson between 1973 and 1976, with Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse and Catherine Schell. In 1999, Merton reprised this role in the professionally produced short film Message from Moonbase Alpha, written by series writer Johnny Byrne. This short episode surprised everyone on its debut at the closing ceremony of the Breakaway 1999 convention [9] in Los Angeles, California, on 13 September 1999 – the date on which the moon is blasted out of Earth orbit in the pilot episode of the original series. Regarded by many fans as the 49th and final episode, and providing a closure to the series, Message from Moonbase Alpha is included as a special feature on the UFO and Space: 1999 Documentaries DVD, available exclusively from Fanderson.
Following Space: 1999, Merton appeared in many popular television series including Grange Hill , [2] Return of the Saint (1979), [2] Bergerac (1983), [2] Angels (1983), [2] Tenko (1984), [2] Dempsey & Makepeace (1985), [2] Lovejoy (1986), [2] Crime Traveller (1997), Doctors (2001), [2] Dinotopia (2002), Casualty (1986–2002), [2] EastEnders (1998–2003), [2] The Bill (1999–2005), [2] Judge John Deed (2006), Coronation Street (2008) [2] and Wire in the Blood (2008).
In December 2008, Merton filmed a guest role for the eighth episode ("Samaritan") of the ITV drama Law & Order: UK . Although the series premiered on 23 February 2009, some episodes were held over for broadcast as "Series Two". "Samaritan" was first transmitted on ITV1 on 11 January 2010.
In May 2009, Merton returned to the world of Doctor Who, 45 years after her appearance in Marco Polo, to record a special episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures in the two-part episode The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith , broadcast on BBC One on 29 and 30 October 2009.
In 2018, Merton narrated BBC Audio's release of the novelisation of Marco Polo. This turned out to be her final professional engagement.
Merton was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2017, and died 14 September 2018. [5]
Zienia Merton; Robert E. Wood (2005). Anecdotes & Armadillos. self-published. ISBN 1411634845.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Masters of Venus | Marla | |
| 1965 | Catch Us If You Can | Allison | Uncredited |
| Help! | High Priestess | Uncredited | |
| 1969 | The Chairman | Ting Ling | |
| 1970 | The Adventurers | Dax's Sister | Uncredited |
| When You're With Me | Princess Tamani | West German film | |
| 1972 | Henry VIII and His Six Wives | Annette | (scenes deleted) |
| 1977 | Cosmetics Revolution | Lucy Ferner | Norwegian film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Doctor Who: Marco Polo | Ping-Cho | Season 1: (7 episodes) |
| The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling | Kashmiri girl | Season 1, Episode 7: "Mark of the Beast" | |
| 1969 | The Troubleshooters | Liane | Season 5, Episode 23: "It's a Very Bad Day for Travelling" |
| Thirty-Minute Theatre | Rachel | Season 5, Episode 6: "Trespassers" | |
| Omnibus | Noel | Season 3, Episode 9: "F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Dream Divided" | |
| Strange Report | Zeba Hameed | Season 1, Episode 7: "Report 3424: Epidemic - A Most Curious Crime" | |
| The Root of All Evil? | Medeline | Season 2, Episode 5:"Floating Man" | |
| 1970 | The Six Wives of Henry VIII | Annette | TV mini-series |
| W. Somerset Maugham | Malay girl | Season 2, Episode 8: "The Door of Opportunity" | |
| ITV Playhouse | Leila | Season 3, Episode 10: "The High Game" | |
| 1971 | Casanova | Christina | 6 part BBC serial |
| 1972 | The Benny Hill Show | Mrs. Chow Mein | Season 3, Episode 4: "Down Memory Lane" |
| Jason King | Zenia | Season 1, Episode 24: "Zenia" | |
| Crime of Passion | Nicole Martine | Season 3, Episode 3: "Modeste" | |
| 1973 | Madigan | Natalia | Season 1, Episode 4: "The Lisbon Beat" |
| Ego Hugo | Guernsey Maid | TV movie | |
| Beryl's Lot | Katy Papademitropoullos | Season 1, Episode 1: "Getting Up" | |
| 1975–1977 | Space: 1999 | Sandra Benes | Season 1: (24 episodes) Season 2: (11 episodes) |
| 1976 | Journey Through the Black Sun | Sandra Benes | TV movie |
| Alien Attack | Sandra Benes | TV movie | |
| 1978 | Destination Moonbase-Alpha | Sandra Benes | TV movie |
| Wilde Alliance | Dolores | Season 1, Episode 7: "Well Enough Alone" | |
| Return of the Saint | Mila | Season 1, Episode 2: "The Nightmare Man" | |
| Thank You, Comrades | Olga | TV movie | |
| 1979 | The Other Side | Kieu | Season 1, Episode 5: "Contacts" |
| 1980 | Escape | Unknown | Season 1, Episode 2: "Hijack to Mogadishu" |
| 1981 | The History Man | Miss Ho | TV mini-series |
| 1982 | Cosmic Princess | Sandra Benes | TV movie |
| 1983 | Bergerac | Cora | Season 2, Episode 7: "A Miracle Every Week" |
| Angels | Sister Davis | Season 9, Episode 25 | |
| 1984 | The Brief | Mrs. Francis | Season 1, Episode 8: "Terry" |
| Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Nurse Lee Parquet | Season 1, Episode 5: "The Late Nancy Irving" | |
| Tenko | Nun | Season 3, Episode 9 | |
| 1985 | Dempsey and Makepeace | Lei Shan | Season 1, Episode 7: "Make Peace Not War" |
| Grange Hill | Mrs. Wallace | Season 8, Episode 15 | |
| 1986 | Lovejoy | Miss Taylor | Season 1, Episode 2: "The Axeman Cometh" |
| 1986–2002 | Casualty | Manson / Dr Helen Billington / Dr. Helen Billington / Hotel Receptionist | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | Capital City | Melinda Lau | Season 1, Episode 5: "Pension Fund" |
| 1994–2005 | The Bill | Registrar / Dr. Morgan / Magistrate / Surgeon | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Chiller | Maria Monsanto | Season 1, Episode 1: "Prophecy" |
| 1997 | Crime Traveller | Receptionist | Season 1, Episode 7: "The Lottery Experiment" |
| 1998 | Peak Practice | Jennifer Kemp | Season 6, Episode 5: "Another Day of Life" |
| Heaven on Earth | Barbara Tucker | TV movie | |
| 1998–2003 | EastEnders | Receptionist / Dr. Stokeley | Season 1: (6 episodes) |
| 1999 | The Lakes | Guest 2 | Season 2, Episode 9 |
| 2000 | Family Affairs | Doctor Morrisey | Unknown |
| 2001–2011 | Doctors | Helen Waterman / Dr. Sarah Reed / Ms. Reed | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | Dinotopia | Teacher | TV mini-series |
| 2006 | Judge John Deed | Dr. Dolores Bleach | Season 5, Episode 5: "One Angry Man" |
| 2008 | Coronation Street | Doctor | Season 1: (3 episodes) |
| Wire in the Blood | Magistrate | Season 6: (2 episodes) | |
| 2009 | Law & Order: UK | Judge Katerina Rose | Season 2, Episode 1: "Samaritan" |
| The Sarah Jane Adventures | Registrar | Season 3: (2 episodes) | |
| 2013 | Wizards vs. Aliens | Tseringma | Season 2: (2 episodes) |
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television programme that ran for two series from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, set in the year 1999, nuclear waste stored on the Moon's far side explodes, knocking the Moon out of orbit and sending it, as well as the 311 inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, hurtling uncontrollably into space. Space: 1999 was the last production by the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and was the most expensive series produced for British television up to that time. The first series was co-produced by ITC Entertainment and Italian broadcaster RAI, while the second series was produced solely by ITC.
Marco Polo is the fourth serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC TV in seven weekly parts from 22 February to 4 April 1964. It was written by John Lucarotti and directed largely by Waris Hussein; John Crockett directed the fourth episode. The story is set in Yuan-era China in the year 1289, where the Doctor, his granddaughter Susan Foreman, and her teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright meet the Italian merchant-explorer Marco Polo and Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan.
"The Beta Cloud" is the fourteenth episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Charles Woodgrove ; the director was Robert Lynn. The final shooting script is dated 11 June 1976. Live action filming took place Monday 26 July 1976 through Friday 6 August 1976. A two-day remount was scheduled for Tuesday 21 September 1976 through Wednesday 22 September 1976 during production of the two-part episode "The Bringers of Wonder".
"The Seance Spectre" is the twentieth episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Donald James; the director was Peter Medak. The original title was "The Mutiny". The final shooting script is dated 16 September 1976. Live-action filming took place Monday 18 October 1976 through Saturday 30 October 1976.
"Devil's Planet" is the twenty-second episode of the second series of the British sci-fi television series Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Michael Winder; the director was Tom Clegg. The original title of the episode was "Devil's Moon". The final shooting script is dated 9 September 1976 and live-action filming began on Monday 1 November 1976 lasting through to Thursday 18 November 1976. The episode was first broadcast in the U.K. on 1 September 1977.
"Catacombs of the Moon" is the eleventh episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Anthony Terpiloff; the director was Robert Lynn. The original title was "The Catacombs of the Moon". The final shooting script is dated 18 May 1976, with amendments dated 26 May, 9 June, 14 June and 17 June 1976. Live-action filming took place Monday 21 June 1976 until Tuesday 6 July 1976. Production was halted for two days when the fire effects used in the Osgood vision sequences got out of hand and the fire brigade had to be called in.
"Journey to Where" is the fifth episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Donald James; the director was Tom Clegg. The final shooting script is dated 18 February 1976, with amendments dated 2 March, 4 March, 11 March, 17 March, 18 March, 22 March and 25 March 1976. Live-action filming took place Thursday 1 April 1976 through Wednesday 14 April 1976.
"One Moment of Humanity" is the third episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Tony Barwick; the director was Charles Crichton. The original title was "One Second of Humanity". The final shooting script is dated 12 February 1976. Live-action filming took place Thursday 4 March 1976 through Wednesday 17 March 1976.
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include "Zero-G", "The Void Ahead" and "Turning Point". The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973. Live-action filming took place from Monday 3 December 1973 to Friday 11 January 1974. A three-day re-mount took place Friday 22 February 1974 to Tuesday 26 February 1974.
"Force of Life" is the ninth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was David Tomblin. The original title was "Force of Evil". The shooting script is dated 15 May 1974; the final shooting script is dated 24 May 1974. Live-action filming began Wednesday 29 May 1974 through Friday 7 June 1974. After a three-week hiatus, filming resumed Monday 1 July 1974 through Friday 5 July 1974; the hiatus was planned, as the Landaus' contract guaranteed them time off for a summer holiday.
"The Full Circle" is the fifteenth episode of the first season of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Jesse Lasky, Jnr and Pat Silver; the director was Bob Kellett. The final shooting script is dated 17 September 1974. Live-action filming took place Tuesday 24 September 1974 through Tuesday 8 October 1974.
"War Games" is the seventeenth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 15 October 1974. Live-action filming took place Thursday 24 October 1974 through Thursday 7 November 1974.
Brian Reginald Miller is a British actor and television personality. He is known for his music and television appearances. Miller was married to Elisabeth Sladen, who was a recurring cast member on the BBC show Doctor Who and also in her own spin off series The Sarah Jane Adventures.
"Missing Link" is the seventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Edward di Lorenzo; the director was Ray Austin. The final shooting script is dated 5 April 1974. Live-action filming took place Monday 22 April 1974 through Thursday 9 May 1974, with one day of second-unit filming on 22 July 1974.
"Matter of Life and Death" is the second episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Art Wallace and Johnny Byrne; the director was Charles Crichton. The original title was "Siren Planet". The final shooting script is dated 8 January 1974. Live-action filming took place Monday 14 January 1974 through Wednesday 30 January 1974.
"The Last Sunset" is the eleventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 21 July 1974, with blue-page amendments dated 22 July 1974 and pink-page amendments dated 23 July 1974. Live-action filming took place Tuesday 23 July 1974 through Tuesday 6 August 1974. A day of second-unit location work was completed on Wednesday 21 August 1974, during production of "Voyager's Return".
"Dragon's Domain" is the eighth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script was dated 21 January 1975, with blue-page amendments dated 29 January 1975 and yellow-page amendments dated 30 January 1975. Live-action filming took place Monday 27 January 1975 through Monday 10 February 1975.
"The Bringers of Wonder, Part Two" is the eighteenth episode of the second series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Terence Feely; the director was Tom Clegg. The final shooting script is dated 23 June 1976. Live-action filming took place Wednesday 25 August 1976 through Tuesday 28 September 1976. A day of second-unit filming was completed on Tuesday 30 November 1976. This was the series' only two-part episode.
Masters of Venus is a 1962 British science fiction film serial in 8 parts, made by the Children's Film Foundation for cinema distribution as a Saturday morning serial for children. It's directed by Ernest Morris, and stars Norman Wooland, Mandy Harper and Robin Stewart. It was made in black-and-white.
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