Catherine Neilson (born 3 October 1957) is a British stage, television and film actress, who was active from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s.

Career

On stage, Neilson starred as Christie in ''Traps'' by

Caryl Churchill Caryl Lesley Churchill (born 3 September 1938) is a British playwright known for dramatising the abuses of power, for her use of non- naturalistic techniques, and for her exploration of sexual politics and feminist themes.

, at the

Royal Court Theatre Upstairs The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...

in London, opposite

Tim Pigott-Smith Timothy Peter Pigott-Smith, (13 May 1946 – 7 April 2017) was an English film and television actor and author. He was best known for his leading role as Ronald Merrick in the television drama series '' The Jewel in the Crown'', for which he wo ...

, in 1977. ''The Spectator'' observed that the role was "superbly played by Catherine Neilson". In 1980, she was Anni in ''Make and Break'' by

Michael Frayn Michael Frayn, FRSL (; born 8 September 1933) is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce ''Noises Off'' and the dramas ''Copenhagen'' and ''Democracy''. His novels, such as '' Towards the End of the Mo ...

in the West End at the

Theatre Royal Haymarket The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foot ...

. And in 1985 she starred at the National Theatre as Val in ''Neaptide'' by Sarah Daniels. On television, Neilson's early starring roles include the two-season series ''

Yanks Go Home ''Yanks Go Home'' is a British sitcom about U.S. Army Air Forcemen stationed in Lancashire, England in the World War II, Second World War. It was produced and directed by Eric Prytherch for ITV Granada, Granada Television and broadcast on ITV (T ...

'' (1976–1977), and ''Czech Mate'', one of the 13 teleplays of the

Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense ''Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense'' is a short-lived (one season) anthology television series produced in Britain in 1984/85 by Hammer Film Productions. Though similar in format to the 1980 series '' Hammer House of Horror'', the ''Mystery ...

(1985). In 1988 she was

Ian Charleson Ian Charleson (11 August 1949 – 6 January 1990) was a Scottish stage and film actor. He is best known internationally for his starring role as Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in the Oscar-winning 1981 film '' Chariots of Fire''. ...

's love interest in the espionage miniseries '' Codename: Kyril''. On the ''

Ruth Rendell Mysteries ''The Ruth Rendell Mysteries'' is a British television crime drama series, produced by TVS and later by its successor Meridian Broadcasting, in association with Blue Heaven Productions, for broadcast on the ITV network. Twelve series were broa ...

'', she played Elizabeth Nightingale in ''

A Guilty Thing Surprised Chief Inspector Reginald "Reg" Wexford is a recurring character in a series of detective novels by English crime writer Ruth Rendell. He made his first appearance in the author's 1964 debut ''From Doon With Death'', and has since been the prota ...

'' (1988). Neilson continued her television success with a starring role in ''Small Zones'', a teleplay for ''

Screen Two ''Screen Two'' was a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC2 from 1985 to 1998 (not to be confused with a run of films shown on BBC2 under the billing ''Screen 2'' between April 1977 and March 197 ...

'' (1990),''Small Zones''
at the

Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

and she was a cast member of the crime series ''

Yellowthread Street ''Yellowthread Street'' is a British television police drama, first broadcast in 1990, that focuses on the work of a group of detectives in the Royal Hong Kong Police. Developed and produced by Ranald Graham, the series was loosely based on the ...

'' (1990). She also starred in two films by

Ken Russell Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was a British film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. His films in the main were liberal adaptation ...

: ''The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner'' (1990), and ''

Prisoner of Honor ''Prisoner of Honor'' is a 1991 British made-for-television drama film directed by Ken Russell and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Oliver Reed and Peter Firth. It was made by Warner Bros. Television and distributed by HBO, and centers on the famous D ...

'' (1991). In 1993 she was in the main cast of the made-for-television thriller film '' Thicker than Water''. In feature films, Neilson had supporting and co-starring roles. These include, most notably, Lady June Carberry in '' White Mischief'' (1987) and Irene Saunders in

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...

's ''

White Hunter Black Heart ''White Hunter Black Heart'' is a 1990 American adventure drama film produced, directed by, and starring Clint Eastwood and based on the 1953 book of the same name by Peter Viertel. Viertel also co-wrote the script with James Bridges and Burt Kenn ...

'' (1990).

Filmography

Film

* ''

Firepower Firepower is the military capability to direct force at an enemy. (It is not to be confused with the concept of rate of fire, which describes the cycling of the firing mechanism in a weapon system.) Firepower involves the whole range of potent ...

'' (1979) - Hotel Secretary * ''

The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...

'' (1983) - Customer in Shop * '' Biggles: Adventures in Time'' (1986) - Young Nun * '' White Mischief'' (1987) - Lady June Carberry * ''

'' (1990) - Irene Saunders * ''

The Trial ''The Trial'' (german: Der Process, link=no, previously , and ) is a novel written by Franz Kafka in 1914 and 1915 and published posthumously on 26 April 1925. One of his best known works, it tells the story of Josef K., a man arrested and pr ...

'' (1993) - Washer Woman

Television

* ''

Warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster a ...

'' (1976) - Rita Kersey * ''

'' (1976–1977) - Doreen Sankey * ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...

'' (1979) - Karen Barnes * ''World's End'' (1981) - Lynn * ''

Widows A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died. Terminology The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can so ...

'' (1983, TV Mini-Series) - Trudie Nunn * ''

Mr. Palfrey of Westminster ''Mr Palfrey of Westminster'' is a British television drama produced by Thames Television for ITV which ran between 18 April 1984 and 11 June 1985. Plot summary Mr Palfrey is a mild, middle-aged man—the epitome of a middle-ranking British Ci ...

'' (1984) - Anna Capek * ''

'' (1985) - Marie Vladekova * '' Widows 2'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) - Trudie Nunn * '' London's Burning'' (1988) - Nicola McQueen * '' Codename: Kyril'' (1988, TV Mini-Series) - Emma * ''

'' (1988) - Elizabeth Nightingale * ''Wipe Out'' (miniseries) (1988, TV Mini-Series) - Mika Reynolds * '' Bergerac'' (1989) - Jennifer Sutton * ''Small Zones'' (''

'', 1990) - Jenny * ''

'' (1990) - Det. Kelly Lang * ''

Casualty Casualty may refer to: *Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster **Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare * The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...

'' (1990) - Emma Lawrence * ''The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner'' (1990, TV Movie) - Grete * '' Prisoner of Honour'' (1991, TV Movie) - Eloise * ''

Perfect Scoundrels ''Perfect Scoundrels'' is an early-1990s British television comedy-drama following two con-men's travels while conning various people. Produced by TVS Television for the ITV network, it ran for three series between 22 April 1990 and 30 May 19 ...

'' (1992) - Freestone * '' Thicker than Water'' (1993, TV Movie) - Chloe (final film role)

References

''Screen International Film and TV Year Book, Volume 39''
Screen International, King Publications, 1984. p. 606.

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Neilson, Catherine British television actresses British film actresses British stage actresses Living people 1957 births