Georgina Hale

Georgina Hale
Hale talking to actor Murray Melvin at the Young Vic Theatre, October 2007
Born	Georgina Hale 4 August 1943 (1943-08-04) (age 66) Ilford, Essex, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1966-present
Spouse(s)	John Forgeham (divorced)

Georgina Hale (born 4 August 1943) is an award-winning English actress notable for many stage, film and television appearances; often in the works of director Ken Russell and writer Simon Gray. She is perhaps best known for her BAFTA award winning performance as Alma Mahler in the 1974 film, Mahler.

Life and early career

Hale was born in Ilford, Essex, England, to George Robert Hale and Dorothy Hale (née Fordham).^[1] Poorly educated as a child, Hale was unable to read or write for many years.^[2] As a teenager, she worked as an apprentice hairdresser and studied acting at a Stanislavski Method studio in London, before being accepted into drama school.^[2]

Acting career

Stage

An accomplished stage actress, Hale trained at RADA and made her professional debut at Stratford as a walk-on. She subsequently appeared in rep at Canterbury, Windsor and Ipswich; then at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1967, where her parts included the title role in Gigi, and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. At the Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead in October 1975 she played Liza Doolittle in Pygmalion, followed by an acclaimed portrayal of Nina in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Derby Playhouse in July 1976, making her West End debut in the production when it transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in August 1976.^[3]

Other roles included: Marie Caroline David in The Tribades (Hampstead, May 1978); Melanie in Boo Hoo (Open Space, July 1978); and Bobbi Michele in The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Royal Exchange, Manchester, April 1979 - transferring to the Criterion Theatre in November 1979).

In 1981, Hale played the role of Josie in Neil Dunn’s play, Steaming, at the Comedy Theatre in London. Hale received a 1981 Best Comedy Performance Olivier Award nomination for her performance.^[4]

A year later in April 1982 she starred opposite Glenda Jackson in Summit Conference at the Lyric Theatre, playing Mussolini's mistress Clara Petacci in a revival of Robert David MacDonald's play for the Glasgow Citizens Theatre.^[5]

Over the years, Hale has made numerous appearances with the Citizens. These include Mourning Becomes Electra (1991), The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore (1994), Britannicus (2002) and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (2002).

Other notable stage appearances include Simon Gray's Life Support, opposite Alan Bates, at the Aldwych Theatre in London (1997), Noel Coward’s Semi-Monde at the Lyric Theatre (2001), Roger Hall's Take A Chance On Me at the New End Theatre (2003), and as Nell in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame at the Barbican (2006).

Film

Hale’s most notable film role is arguably that of Alma Mahler in Ken Russell’s Mahler (1974), a biopic of the Austrian composer and conductor, Gustav Mahler. Hale received the 1974 Most Promising Newcomer BAFTA Film Award for her performance.^[6]

Hale also made appearances in a number of Russell’s other films, with supporting roles in The Devils (1971), and The Boyfriend (1971), and cameo roles in Lisztomania (1975), Valentino (1977), and Treasure Island (1995). Russell has since described Hale as "...an actress of such sensitivity that she can make the hair rise on your arms."^[7]

Other notable film appearances include Simon Gray's Butley (1974), McVicar (1980), Castaway (1986), Preaching to the Perverted (1997), and Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont (2005).

Television

Hale's television career spans five decades. Her first major television appearances were as Lili Dietrich in the miniseries The Strauss Family (1972), and opposite Adam Faith in the ITV series, Budgie (1971-1972).

Hale often had roles in television plays written by Simon Gray. These include Plaintiffs and Defendants and Two Sundays, broadcast as part of the ITV series, Play for Today (1975).

In 1990, Hale succeeded Elizabeth Estensen in the eponymous role of T-Bag, the villainous, tea drinking sorceress in a succession of children’s adventure series produced by Thames Television. Hale played the role in four series and two Christmas specials from 1990-1992.

Other notable television appearances include guest starring roles in Upstairs, Downstairs (1975), Minder (1980), Hammer House of Horror (1980), the Doctor Who serial The Happiness Patrol (1988), One Foot in the Grave (1990), Murder Most Horrid (1994), The Bill (2002), Emmerdale (2006), and The Commander (2007).

Filmography

Selected Television credits

References

• Who's Who in the Theatre, 17th edition, Gale (1981) ISBN 0810302349

External links

• Georgina Hale at the Internet Movie Database
• Georgina Hale portrait by photographer Rachel Lum
• Georgina Hale Interview