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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.

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

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

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

  1. ^ a b "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.

External links

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Gillian_Elisa&oldid=1182066912"