Carolyn Seymour is an English actress, best known for portraying the role of Abby Grant in the BBC series Survivors (1975) and Queen Myrrah in the Gears of War franchise.
Carolyn Seymour | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carolyn von Benckendorf 1 October 1947[citation needed][1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Carolyn Seymour, 1972 |
Career
editShe was born Carolyn von Benckendorf in Buckinghamshire to an Estonian[2] father of Russian descent and an Irish mother. One of her early television roles was as Jenny in the BBC drama series Take Three Girls, and an early film appearance was as Zita in the film Steptoe and Son (1972) alongside Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell.[3][4] Her best-known movie role remains Grace Gurney in The Ruling Class (1972), opposite Peter O'Toole.[citation needed][5][6]
She left Survivors at the end of its first series due to disagreements with the producers over the direction the show and her character were taking.[7][8] She appeared in the Space: 1999 episode "The Seance Spectre", and with Joan Collins in The Bitch (1979).[9][10] She then moved to the United States and made numerous appearances on television shows, including Hart to Hart; Modesty Blaise; Family Ties; Cagney & Lacey; Remington Steele; Magnum, P.I.; The Twilight Zone; Murder, She Wrote; Matlock; Quantum Leap; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Civil Wars; L.A. Law; Red Shoe Diaries; Star Trek: Voyager; and ER.[11][12]
She has contributed voice work for several Star Wars video games, portraying characters such as Shmi Skywalker and Mon Mothma. She provides the voice for the Locust Queen Myrrah in Gears of War, Dr. Karin Chakwas in the Mass Effect series and the Elder God of Water in Mortal Kombat Annihilation. She has played in audio plays by L.A. Theatre Works and Hollywood Theater of the Ear as well as narrated audiobooks.[13][14][15]
In 2014, she reprised the role of Abby Grant in Big Finish Productions' Survivors series, based on the book by Terry Nation and the television series.[citation needed][16] She has played various roles for the company, and in April 2021, it released a career retrospective interview with her titled Carolyn Seymour in Conversation.[17]
Since 2014, she has voiced Bierce in Dark Deception.[18]
Personal life
editSeymour married director Peter Medak in 1973.[19] The couple had two children and divorced in 1984.[20]
Since 2011, she has lived in Chalais, France.[citation needed]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Unman, Wittering and Zigo | Silvia Ebony | |
| Gumshoe | Alison | ||
| 1972 | Steptoe and Son | Zita Steptoe | |
| The Ruling Class | Grace Shelley | ||
| 1973 | Yellow Dog | Della | |
| 1977 | The Assignment | Danica Rodriguez | |
| 1978 | The Odd Job | Angie | |
| 1979 | The Bitch | Polly Logan | |
| 1980 | Bad Timing | Lisa Dietrich | |
| 1981 | Zorro, The Gay Blade | Dolores | |
| 1983 | Mr. Mom | Eve | |
| 1990 | Midnight Cabaret | Orion | |
| 1995 | Congo | Eleanor Romy | |
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | Elder God #2 | |
| 2001 | Ablaze | Vivian Sims | |
| 2003 | I Witness | Lady Anne | |
| 2007 | Hard Four | Maxine De Winter | |
| 2008 | Dark Streets | Gloria | |
| The Moon and He | Leila | Short | |
| 2010 | The Favour of Your Company | Pamela Wilde | Short |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Take Three Girls | Jenny | Main role |
| 1971–1973 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Connie Bell, Vicky | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | ITV Playhouse | Angela Harrison | Episode: "The Greeks and Their Gifts" |
| 1974 | Justice | Joy Mostyn | Episode: "Matrimonial Malice" |
| 1975 | The Prodigal Daughter | Christine Smith | TV film |
| Edward the Seventh | "Daisy," Lady Brooke/Lady Warwick | Episodes 9, "Scandal," and 10, "The Years of Waiting" | |
| Survivors | Abby Grant | Main role (series 1) | |
| 1977 | Space: 1999 | Eva | Episode: "The Séance Spectre" |
| 1978 | Return of the Saint | Lady Greer Stevens | Episode: "The Arrangement" |
| 1979 | Hazell | Caroline Bancroft | Episode: "Hazell Gets the Bird" |
| 1981 | Mistress of Paradise | Adele | TV film |
| 1982 | Hart to Hart | Celeste Dumont | Episode: "Vintage Harts" |
| The Devlin Connection | Elspeth | Episode: "Love, Sin and Death at Point Dume" | |
| Modesty Blaise | Debbie DeFarge | TV film | |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | Kris Peterson | Episode: "Heaven Is in Your Genes" |
| The Last Ninja | Lydia | TV film | |
| Family Ties | Lorraine Ferrar | Episode: "Sweet Lorraine" | |
| Girls of the White Orchid | Madame Mori | TV film; alternative title Death Ride to Osaka | |
| 1983–1984 | Cagney & Lacey | Renata Myers, Marie-Chantal | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Remington Steele | Shelby Haines | Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Steel" |
| Blue Thunder | Helen | Episode: "The Island" | |
| 1984–1985 | Magnum, P.I. | Elizabeth, Lady Ashley, Leeann | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Otherworld | Prime Manager | Episode: "Princess Metra" |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Carla Dean | Episode: "Wake Me When I'm Dead" | |
| The Twilight Zone | Megaera | Episode: "Ye Gods" | |
| 1985–1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Aisha Candisha, Andrea Caldwell | 2 episodes |
| 1986–1989 | Matlock | Christina Harrison Ward, Vanessa Sedgwick, Iris Vogel | 3 episodes |
| 1986 | Adam's Apple | D.A. Trisha Hammond | TV film |
| 1987 | Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story | Dorothy Difrasso | TV film |
| 1987–1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Pauline Constable, Alice Montrose, Nellie Ruddy | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Celia | Episode: "Old Money" |
| 1989 | Living Dolls | Mrs. Tate | Episode: "Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner" |
| 1989–1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Subcommander Taris, Mirasta Yale, Commander Toreth | 3 episodes: "Contagion", "First Contact", "Face of the Enemy" |
| Quantum Leap | Priscilla Stoltz, Zoey | 4 episodes | |
| 1990 | Blue Bayou | Raleigh McMain | TV film |
| Father Dowling Mysteries | Nurse Eunice | Episode: "The Medical Mystery" | |
| 1991 | The Flash | Jocelyn Weller | Episode: "Done with Mirrors" |
| Over My Dead Body | Diane Beckett | Episode: "An Actor Prepares" | |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Mirasta Yale | Episode: "First Contact" | |
| 1992 | Civil Wars | Bettina Peck-Naughton | Episode: "Tape Fear" |
| Dark Justice | Michelle | Episode: "Needy Things" | |
| 1993 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Moira | Voice, episode: "The Princess Aleta" |
| Jack's Place | Maggie | Episode: "Forever and Ever" | |
| Class of '96 | Anna Horvath | Episode: "Parents Weekend" | |
| 1994 | L.A. Law | Vivian Askoff | 2 episodes |
| Rebel Highway | Mrs. Evelyn Turnbull | Episode: "Reform School Girl" | |
| 1995 | Silk Stalkings | Sarah Rowan | Episode: "Friendly Persuasion" |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Mrs. Templeton | 2 episodes | |
| 1996 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Sarah | Voice, episode: "The Spectre of the Pine Barrens" |
| 1997 | Babylon 5 | Sen. Crosby | Episode: "Endgame" |
| 1998 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kala In-Ze | Voice, episode: "Little Girl Lost" |
| 2001 | ER | Dr. Skoft | Episode: "The Longer You Stay" |
| 2002 | Still Standing | Beverly Gerber | Episode: "Still Scalping" |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | Atty. Marla Rosen | Episode: "My Little Runaway" |
| 2005 | Malcolm in the Middle | Nina | Episode: "Mrs. Tri-County" |
| 2007 | The Replacements | Agent B | Voice, episode: "London Calling" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Concerned Mother, Shmi Skywalker, TC-14 | [21] |
| Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned | Estelle Stiles | [21] | |
| Revenant | Heather, Townswomen | [21] | |
| Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine | Babylonian Holy Woman | [21] | |
| Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure Book | Shmi Skywalker, Jellyfish | [21] | |
| 2000 | Star Wars: Force Commander | AT-AT Barge Pilot, ATC-Frigate, Heavy Lifter Pilot | |
| 2001 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | Empire Destroyer Captain, Gungan Medic, Starbomer Pilot | |
| 2002 | Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast | Mon Mothma | [21] |
| Summoner 2 | Dama Sivora | ||
| 2003 | Armed and Dangerous | Peasant Woman 1 | |
| Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords | Administrator Terena Adare, Iziz Citizen, Republic Captain | ||
| 2004 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | Admiral Forn Dodonna, Helena Shan, Elora | |
| 2005 | Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None | Emily Brent, Ethel Rogers | [21] |
| 2006 | Star Wars: Empire at War | Mon Mothma | [21] |
| Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express | Princess Dragomiroff | [21] | |
| Gears of War | Queen Myrrah | ||
| 2007 | Mass Effect | Dr. Karin Chakwas | |
| 2008 | Gears of War 2 | Queen Myrrah | [21] |
| 2009 | Dragon Age: Origins | Keeper Marethari, Sister Theohild, Grand Cleric Elemena, Sister Augustine, Edwina, Agatha, Redcliffe Old Woman, Circle Tower Mage | |
| 2010 | Mass Effect 2 | Dr. Karin Chakwas | |
| 2011 | Gears of War 3 | Queen Myrrah | [21] |
| 2012 | Mass Effect 3 | Dr. Karin Chakwas, Teresa | |
| 2013 | Gears of War: Judgment | Queen Myrrah | |
| 2018 | Dark Deception | Helen Bierce | |
| 2019 | Gears 5 | Queen Myrrah | [21] |
| 2020 | Dark Deception: Monsters and Mortals | Helen Bierce |
References
edit- ^ "Carolyn Seymour". IMDb.
- ^ Seymour, Carolyn (April 2021). "Carolyn Seymour in conversation" (Interview). Interviewed by Toby Hadoke. Big Finish Productions.
- ^ "Take Three Girls: The Company of Madmen". 21 April 1971. p. 39 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Carolyn Seymour". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
- ^ "The Ruling Class (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.
- ^ Elley, Derek (2 November 2001). "The Ruling Class".
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Survivors (1975-77)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Big Finish - Survivors - Cast - Series one - Carolyn Seymour - Abby Grant - Survivors: A World Away". www.survivors-mad-dog.org.uk.
- ^ "Space: 1999 | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "The Bitch (1979)". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018.
- ^ "Carolyn Seymour | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Carolyn Seymour". aveleyman.com.
- ^ "Audio Drama: The L.A. Theatre Works Collection". Alexander Street.
- ^ "Jo Hole Associates (JHA)". www.joholeassociates.com.
- ^ "WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Brontë Read by Carolyn Seymour | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine.
- ^ "Survivors 5 - A Critics' Cracker! - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com.
- ^ "Seymour the Survivor! - News - Big Finish".
- ^ "Dark Deception Dev Talks Pac-Man Inspirations, Release Date & More". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Medak, Peter (30 October 2001). The Ruling Class (DVD commentary). Criterion Collection.
- ^ Peter Medak profile, FilmReference.com; accessed 3 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Carolyn Seymour – 25 Character Images | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
External links
edit- Carolyn Seymour at IMDb
- Carolyn Seymour at the Internet Broadway Database
- Interview with Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) for Survivors (1975 TV series)
