Harriet Walter

Harriet Walter
Harriet Walter discusses the role of women in Shakespeare plays as part of the RSCs 'Stand Up For Shakespeare' program in January 2009
Born	Harriet Walter September 24, 1950 (1950-09-24) (age 59) London, England, United Kingdom

Harriet Mary Walter, CBE, (born 24 September, 1950) is a Tony Award-nominated British actress.

Personal life

She is the niece of renowned British actor Christopher Lee.^[1], as the daughter of his elder sister Xandra Lee. She was educated at the Cranbourne Chase School. After training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she gained early experience with the Joint Stock touring theatre company, Paines Plough touring, and the Duke's Playhouse, Lancaster. Her partner, until his death in 2004, was actor Peter Blythe.

Career

She has worked many times throughout her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in productions including Nicholas Nickleby (1980), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981), All's Well That Ends Well (1981), The Castle (1985), Three Sisters (1988), The Duchess of Malfi (1989), Macbeth (1999), and Much Ado about Nothing (2002).

She was made an associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1987. Other theatre work includes Three Birds Alighting on a Field (1991), Arcadia (1993), Hedda Gabler (1996), Ivanov (1997), and Mary Stuart (2005). Her films include Sense and Sensibility (1996), Bedrooms and Hallways (1998), Onegin (1999), Villa des Roses (2002), and Bright Young Things (2003).

On New Year's Eve 1999 she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Her performance in Mary Stuart at the Donmar Warehouse transferred to Broadway, where it was nominated for numerous Tony Awards, including Best Actress nods for herself and her co-star Janet McTeer.

Stage — notable performances

• 1981, Royal Shakespeare Company, Helena in All's Well That Ends Well
• 1987, Royal Shakespeare Company, Imogen in Cymbeline
• 1987, Royal Shakespeare Company, Duchess in John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi
• 1988, Royal Shakespeare Company, Viola in Twelfth Night
• 1993, Royal National Theatre, Lady Croom in Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
• 2002 Royal National Theatre Paige in Dinner by Moira Buffini, co-starring Nicholas Farrell and Catherine McCormack.
• 2005, Donmar Warehouse and West End, Mary Stuart by Schiller
• 2006, Royal Shakespeare Company, Antony and Cleopatra
• 2009, Mary Stuart, Broadway transfer

TV

Documentary

• London (2004) (TV) (BBC) - Virginia Woolf
• George Eliot: A Scandalous Life (2002) (TV) - Mary Ann Evans/George Eliot

Drama

• Law and Order: UK (2009) DI Natalie Chandler
• A Short Stay in Switzerland (2009) - Clare
• Cat Among the Pigeons (2008) - Honoria Bulstrode
• Little Dorrit (2008) - Mrs. Gowan (guest appearance)
• The Palace (2008) - Joanna Woodward (guest appearance)
• Ballet Shoes (2007) - Dr Smith
• Messiah: The Harrowing (2005) - Prof Robb
• New Tricks - Episode #2.3 (2005) - Madeline (guest appearance)
• Midsomer Murders - Orchis Fatalis (2005) - Margaret Winstanley (guest appearance)
• Spooks - aka MI-5 (USA) - Who Guards the Guards? (2004) - Deep Throat (guest appearance)
• My Uncle Silas II (2003) - Pamela Farrell (guest appearance)
• Waking the Dead - A Simple Sacrifice (2001) - Annie Keel (guest appearance)
• Black Cab - Busy Body (2000) - Jane (guest appearance)
• The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999) - Queen Morag
• Dalziel and Pascoe Time to Go (1999) - Mary Waddell (guest appearance)
• Norman Ormal: A Very Political Turtle (1998) - Felicity Ormal
• Unfinished Business (1998, TV Series) - Amy
• A Dance to the Music of Time: segment two (1997, miniseries)- Mildred Blaides
• The Maitlands (1993) - Mrs. Dorothy Maitland
• Hard Times (1994) - Rachel
• The Hour of the Pig(1993) - Jeannine Martin
• Inspector Morse - The Day of the Devil (1993) - Dr. Esther Martin
• Ashenden (1991, miniseries) - Giulia Lazzari
• The Men's Room (1991, miniseries - Charity Walton
• Bye Bye Columbus (1991) - Queen Isabella
• La Nuit miraculeuse (1989)
• Gaudy Night (1987) - Harriet Vane
• Have His Carcase (1987) - Harriet Vane
• Strong Poison (1987) - Harriet Vane
• The Price (1985, mini series) - Frances Carr
• Amy (1984) - Amy Johnson
• Play for Today: The Imitation Game (1980) - Cathy Raine
• Rebecca (1979) - Clarice
• Play For Today: Licking Hitler (1974)

Film

• Cheri (2009) - La Loupiote
• The Young Victoria (2009) - Queen Adelaide
• Atonement (2007) - Emily Tallis
• Babel (2006) - Lilly
• Chromophobia (2005) - Penelope Aylesbury
• Bright Young Things (2003) - Lady Maitland
• Villa des Roses (2002) - Olive
• Onegin (1999) - Mme. Larina
• Bedrooms and Hallways (1998) - Sybil
• The Governess (1998) - Mrs. Cavendish
• Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1997) - Julia Comstock
• The Leading Man (1996) - Liz Flett
• Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Fanny Dashwood
• A Man You Don't Meet Every Day (1994) - Charlotte
• Milou en mai (1990) - Lily
• They Never Slept (1990) - Amelia Cleverly
• The Good Father (1985) - Emmy Hooper
• Turtle Diary (1985) - Harriet Sims (bookstore clerk)
• Reflections (1984) - Ottilie Garinger

Radio

• Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation
• Desmond Olivier Dingle (as herself), broadcast on BBC7 on 28 February 2007, episode 2 of 6, duration 30 minutes
• The Arts and How they was done (Radio Show) (as herself), broadcast on BBC Radio4 between 4 April and 9 May 2007, episodes 1 and 6 out of 6, duration 30 minutes

Books

• Macbeth (Actors on Shakespeare) (2002). Faber and Faber, London. ISBN 057121407X
• Other People's Shoes (2003). Nick Hearn Books, London. ISBN 1-85459-751-5. Autobiography.

References

External links

• Harriet Walter at the Internet Movie Database