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Gillian Elisa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gillian Elisa
Born
Gillian Elizabeth Thomas

(1953-08-10) 10 August 1953 (age 71)
Carmarthen, Wales
Alma materRoyal 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.

Early life and education

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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

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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 Welsh and putting it to practice.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Coming Up Roses Sian
1991 Body Beautiful Sonia / Shopkeeper / Beryl's Mom
1997 Twin Town Pat
1999 The Last Seduction II Barbara
2012 Rain: An Original Musical Mrs. Coots
2014 Billy Elliot the Musical Live Alternate Grandma / Ensemble
2019 2nd Date Sex Val
2022 Save the Cinema Town clerk

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Hawkmoor Elinor Episode #1.2
1978 Dylan Lady in Swansea pub Television film
1979 Heyday in the Blood Beti
1979 Border Country
1980, 2004 Pobol y Cwm Sabrina Daniels 2 episodes
1981 The Life and Times of David Lloyd George Anita 4 episodes
1981 Taff Acre Yvonne Jenkins 10 episodes
1984 The Magnificent Evans Dorinda Episode #1.2
1988 The Snow Spider Mrs. Davies 2 episodes
1990 Screen One Phoebe Episode: "Sticky Wickets"
1991 A Mind to Kill WPS Alison Television film
1992 Forever Green Mary Powell Episode #2.9
1992 The Winter Stallion Mrs. Howard Television film
1994–1997 A Mind to Kill WPS Alison 13 episodes
1995, 1996 Gogs Voice 2 episodes
1998 Mortimer's Law Jane Harris
2007 High Hopes Chlamydia Episode: "Dead Man Walking"
2007 Y Pris Anne 5 episodes
2007, 2009 Gavin & Stacey Welsh Nationalist / Lingerie Lady 2 episodes
2009 Ar y Tracs Eluned Hughes Television film
2010 Sherlock Surgery Receptionist Episode: "The Blind Banker"
2011 Ar y Tracs: Y Tren i'r Gem Eluned Hughes Television film
2011 Zanzibar Eiriona Episode #1.6
2011–2012 Alys Heulwen 16 episodes
2015–2017 Stella Nana Pat / Mrs. Evans 6 episodes
2017 Bang Liz 2 episodes
2018 Hidden Iona Harris 7 episodes
2019 35 Awr Val 8 episodes
2020 Holby City Grace Allan Episode #22.14
2021 The Pact Gwen 3 episodes
2021 Jam Mags 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gillian Elisa - Biography". Sain. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. 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.
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