Brigit Forsyth | |
---|---|
Born |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
28 July 1940
Occupation | Actress |
Spouse(s) | Brian Mills (m. 1975–2006, his death; separated 1999) |
Brigit Forsyth (born 28 July 1940, in Edinburgh) is a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? and Helen Yeldham in the ITV drama Boon.
After leaving St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh, Forsyth trained as a secretary before enrolling at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she won the Emile Littler Award.
Forsyth toured in My Fat Friend and performed in the West End productions of The Norman Conquests; and Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi.
Her film work includes The Night Digger (1971) as district nurse, the film version of The Likely Lads (1976) as Thelma Ferris, and Crystalstone (1987), as Isabel.
Forsyth played the cello from the age of nine, but abandoned it once she went to drama school. Her ability was employed when, in 2004, she was cast in the lead role in Cello and the Nightingale, a play about internationally acclaimed cellist Beatrice Harrison that premiered at York Theatre Royal.
Forsyth's television work includes Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? as Thelma (1973–74); The Glamour Girls (1980-82) as Veronica Haslett; Tom, Dick and Harriet (1983) as Harriet Maddison; The Practice as Dr. Judith Vincent (1986); Sharon and Elsie as Elsie Beecroft (1984–85); Dark Season (1991) as Miss Maitland; and Boon (ITV, 1989) as Helen Yeldham. She has guested on The Bill; Doctor Who; Dr Finlay's Casebook; Wycliffe; Agatha Christie's Poirot; and also appeared in The Sinners; Holly as the title character Holly Elliot; Adam Smith; Bizarre and Rummage; The Master of Ballantrae; Jackanory; Holding The Fort; Waiting; Dangerfield; Running Wild; The Visit; Graham's Gang; I Told You, Didn't I?; Stanley's Vision as Hilda Spencer; My World; Henry; Nice Town (1992) as Rosemary Dobson; Murder Most Horrid (BBC2, 1996, episode: "A Life Or Death Operation") as Mrs. Osman; Spark (1997) as Mrs. Wells; and Playing the Field (BBC1, 1998) as Francine Pratt. In March 1998, Forsyth made a guest appearance in Coronation Street as Ken Barlow's dating agency client, Babs Fanshawe.