Kate O'Mara
Kate O'Mara | |
---|---|
Born | Frances Meredith Carroll 10 August 1939 Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK |
Died | 30 March 2014 Sussex, England, UK | (aged 74)
Occupation(s) | Actress, writer |
Years active | 1963–2012 |
Known for | |
Spouses |
|
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Belinda Carroll (sister) |
Kate O'Mara (born Frances Meredith Carroll; (2008).
In the cinema, O'Mara acted in two 1970
Early life and career
O'Mara was born to John F. Carroll, an
O’Mara’s earliest television appearances, in the 1960s, included guest roles in Danger Man, Adam Adamant Lives!, The Saint, Z-Cars and The Avengers.[3] In 1970, she appeared in two Hammer Studio horror films: The Vampire Lovers and The Horror of Frankenstein. In the former, she had an erotically charged scene with Ingrid Pitt, in which O'Mara was meant to be seduced; the two women were left laughing on set, however, as Pitt's fangs kept falling into O'Mara's cleavage.[4] O'Mara's work in The Vampire Lovers impressed Hammer enough for them to offer her a contract, which she turned down, fearful of being typecast.[4]
Her first major TV role was as Julia Main, wife of the main protagonist in the ITV series The Main Chance (1969). She had a regular role in the BBC drama series The Brothers (1975–1976) as Jane Maxwell, and in the early 1980s, O'Mara starred in the BBC soap opera Triangle (1981–1982), sometimes counted among the worst television series ever made.[5] She played the villainous Rani in Doctor Who in two serials, The Mark of the Rani (1985) and Time and the Rani (1987), and also in the Doctor Who 30th anniversary spoof Dimensions in Time (1993), part of the Children in Need charity event.[6]
Between these appearances in Doctor Who, she auditioned for a leading role as one of the sisters on the American primetime soap
Later life and career
O'Mara spoke on several occasions about her experience with the
O'Mara continued to make television appearances throughout the 1990s, including
In 2012, O'Mara appeared in a theatre adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.[16]
Personal life
O'Mara was married twice, first to Jeremy Young in 1971; the couple divorced in 1976. In 1993, she married Richard Willis, but the marriage was dissolved in 1996.[17]
She had two sons, Dickon Young (1964–2012) and Christopher Linde (born 1965), both from previous relationships. Dickon took his stepfather's surname but Christopher, having been given up for adoption, was named by his adoptive parents, Derek and Joy Linde.[18] Christopher, from whom O'Mara was long estranged, was the son of actor David Orchard.[citation needed] Dickon, whose biological father was reportedly actor
O'Mara wrote four books. She wrote two novels: When She Was Bad (1992) (
Speaking about her bouts of
Death
O'Mara died on 30 March 2014 in a Sussex nursing home, aged 74, from ovarian cancer. She left a £350,000 estate, bequeathing £10,000 to the Actors’ Benevolent Fund and, after the funeral and legal fees, the remainder to her younger sister Belinda Carroll, a former actress.[19][20]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | Home and Away | Annie Knowles | As Merrie Carroll |
1962 | Captain Clegg | Girl at Inn | Uncredited |
1967 | Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond
|
Miss Moneypenny's assistant | Uncredited |
1968 | Corruption | Val Nolan | |
Great Catherine | Varinka | Gordon Flemyng film | |
The Limbo Line | Irina Tovskia | ||
1969 | The Desperados | Adah | Henry Levin film
|
1970 | The Vampire Lovers | The Governess (Mme. Perrodot) | Roy Ward Baker film |
Cannon for Cordoba | Ruby | ||
The Horror of Frankenstein | Alys | Jimmy Sangster film | |
1974 | The Tamarind Seed | Anna Skriabina | Blake Edwards film |
Feelings | Barbara Martin | Gerry O'Hara film | |
1976 | Machinegunner | Pat Livingston | |
1978 | An Unknown Friend | Karen Lindén | |
The Nativity
|
Salome | ||
1992 | Aladdin | Madam Roly Poly | Voice |
Beauty and the Beast | Lucinda | Voice | |
1999 | The Road to Ithaca | Despina |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964– 1966 |
No Hiding Place | Jacqueline | 2 episodes |
1965 | Danger Man | Annette | Episode: A Room in the Basement |
1965 | Gaslight Theatre | Patience | Episode: The Drunkard or, the Sins of the Parents Shall Be Visited... |
1965 | Hereward the Wake | Richilda | Episode: The Court of Love |
1966 | Court Martial | Episode: Logistics of Survival | |
1966 | Weavers Green | Mick Armstrong | |
1967 | Adam Adamant Lives! | Sonia Fawzi | Episode: The Basardi Affair |
1967 | The Troubleshooters | Kim Hart | Episode: Mr. Know-How |
1967– 1968 |
The Saint | Annabelle / Nadine / Yvette | Episodes: Double Take, Counterfeit Countess, Fast Women |
1967– 1969 |
Z-Cars | Kate / Mae Astell | 4 episodes |
1968 | Promenade | Laura | Short film |
1968 | The Champions | Jane Purcell | Episode: To Catch a Rat |
1969 | The Avengers | Lisa | Episode: Stay Tuned |
1969 | The Main Chance | Julia Main | 4 episodes |
1969 | Department S | Pietra | Episode: Who Plays the Dummy |
1970 | Never a Cross Word | Ellie | Episode: When is a Spy... |
1970 | Codename | Helen Lingard | Episode: Opening Gambit |
1970 | Paul Temple | Luciana Benedetti | Episode: Re-take |
1970 | The Adventures of Don Quick | Peleen | Episode: People isn't Everything |
1972 | A Man About a Dog | Storm Riordan | |
1972 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Storm Riordan | |
1972 | The Persuaders! | Heidi Schulman | Episode: Read and Destroy |
1972 | Jason King | Delphi | Episode: A Kiss for a Beautiful Killer |
1972 | Clouds of Witness | Cynthia Tarrant | Episode 1.3 |
1972 | Pathfinders | Section Officer Anne Denby | Episode: Fog |
1973 | Spy Trap | Sharon Lunghi | 3 episodes |
1974 | The Protectors | Sarah Trent | Episode: A Pocketful of Posies |
1975– 1976 |
The Brothers | Jane Maxwell | 30 episodes |
1976 | Morecambe & Wise
|
Kate O'Mata Hari | Christmas Special |
1976 | The Two Ronnies | The Gypsy Queen | |
1977 | The Two Ronnies | Lucy Lee | Series 6 Episodes 3–6: Stop! You're Killing Me mini-serial |
1978 | Return of the Saint | Jeanette | Episode: Assault Force |
1979 | The Plank | 'It's Paint' Woman | |
1981– 1982 |
Triangle | Katherine Laker | 27 episodes |
1985– 1987 |
Doctor Who | The Rani | 6 episodes (2 Stories) |
1986 | Dempsey and Makepeace | Joyce Hargreaves | Episode: Guardian Angels |
1986 | Dynasty | Cassandra "Caress" Morell
|
Recurring (Seasons 6–7) |
1987 | Great Catherine | Varinka | |
1989– 1990 |
Howards' Way | Laura Wilde | 26 episodes |
1990 | Cluedo | Mrs. Peacock | Episode: Christmas Past, Christmas Present |
1992 | Aladdin (Not Disney) | Madam Roly Poly (voice) | Direct to video film |
1993 | Comic Relief: The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes | Female Patient | |
1993 | Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time | The Rani | Guest appearance |
1995– 2003 |
Absolutely Fabulous | Jackie Stone | 2 episodes |
1997 | The New Adventures of Robin Hood | Lady Isabelle | Episode: Marion to the Rescue |
2001 | Bad Girls | Virginia O'Kane | 4 episodes |
2003 | Crossroads | Lady Alice Fox | Soap opera |
2005 | Family Affairs | Jackie Lawrence | Soap opera |
2008 | Doctors | Rosetta Froom | Episode: Fears, Feats & the Frooms |
2012 | Benidorm | Barbara Simmonds | 1 episode, (final appearance) |
Select stage roles
- 1963, Jessica, The Merchant of Venice at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
- 1966, Lydia Languish, The Rivals at The Welsh Theatre Co.
- 1967, Elsa, The Italian Girl at the Wyndham's Theatre
- 1970, Fleda Vetch, The Spoils of Poynton at the Mayfair Theatre
- 1971, Gerda Von Metz, The Avengers (directed by Leslie Phillips) at the Prince of Wales Theatre[21]
- 1971–2, Sheila Wallis, Suddenly at Home at the Fortune Theatre
- 1974, Elvira, Blithe Spirit at the Bristol Old Vic
- 1974, Liza Moriarty, Sherlock's Last Case at the Open Space Theatre Fortune Theatre
- 1977, Sybil Merton, Lord Arthur Saville's Crimeat the Sadlers Wells Theatre
- 1977, Louka, Arms and the Man at the Hong Kong Festival
- 1978, Rosaline, Love's Labour's Lost at the Thorndike Theatre
- 1978, Katherina, The Taming of the Shrew at the Ludlow Festival
- 1978, Cyrenne, Rattle of a Simple Man
- 1979, Monica Claverton- Ferry, The Elder Statesman
- 1979, Lina, Misalliance at The Birmingham Rep
- 1979, Irene St Clair, The Crucifer of Blood at the Haymarket Theatre
- 1980, Ruth, Night and Day, at post-London tour
- 1981, Stephanie Abrahams, Duet for One Yugoslavia and tour
- 1981, Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing at the New Shakespeare Co
- 1982, Kathrina, The Taming of the Shrew at the Nottingham Playhouse\New Shakespeare Co
- 1982, Titania\Hippolta, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the New Shakespeare Co
- 1982, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth at the Mercury Theatre
- 1982, Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra at the Nottingham Playhouse
- 1982, Millamant, The Way of the World at the Nottingham Playhouse
- 1983, Hortense, The Rehearsal
- 1984, Mistress Ford, The Merry Wives of Windsor at the New Shakespeare Co
- 1985 – 1987, Frances Black, Light Up the Sky at the Old Vic & Globe Theatres
- 1987, Goneril, King Lear at the Compass Theatre
- 1988, Berinthia, The Relapse at the Mermaid Theatre
- 1990, Torfreida, The Last Englishman at The Orange Tree Theatre
- 1990, Martha, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
- 1991, Lilli Vanessi, Kiss Me Kate, RSC tour
- 1992, Lady Fanciful, The Provok'd Wifeat the National Theatre Studio
- 1992, Rosabel, Venus Observed at the Chichester Festival
- 1992, Eve, Cain at the Chichester Festival
- 1992, Jackie, King Lear in New York at the Chichester Festival
- 1994, Maria Wislack, On Approval
- 1995, Pola, The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles at The Orange Tree Theatre
- 1995, Rachel, My Cousin Rachel, English Theatre, Vienna and tour 1995
- 1996, Olivia, Twelfth Night at the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke
- 1996–7, Mrs Cheveley, An Ideal Husband at the Haymarket, Albury and Gielgud theatres
- 2000, Mrs. Malaprop\Lucy, The Rivals
- 2000, Madame Alexandre, Colombe at the Salisbury Playhouse
- 2003, Gertrude Lawrence, Noel and Gertie
- 2004, Mrs Arbuthnot, A Woman of No Importance
- 2005, Eloise, The Marquise at the Mercury Theatre
- 2005, Helen, We Happy Few at the Gielgud Theatre
- 2008, Marlene Dietrich, Lunch with Marlene at The New End Theatre
- 2010, Lady Windermere, Lord Arthur Saville's Crimeat the Mercury Theatre
See also
References
- ^ a b Michael Coveney Obituary: Kate O'Mara, The Guardian, 30 March 2014
- ^ "She's not a superbitch after all". Edinburgh Evening News. 25 April 2002. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- IMDb
- ^ a b Robert Michael 'Bobb' Cotter The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2013, p. 142
- ^ a b c Obituary; Kate O'Mara, Daily Telegraph, 30 March 2014
- ^ Emma G. Fitzsimmons "Kate O’Mara, a Schemer on ‘Dynasty’, Dies at 74", New York Times, 30 March 2014.
- ^ Charles, Marissa (27 October 2009). "Kate O'Mara". Metro News. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Dynasty star Kate O'Mara dies". BBC News. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ The Word (17 March 1994), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRaBWCJWgMs#t=3m28s
- ^ O'Mara 2003, p. 61
- ^ O'Mara 2003, p. 32
- ^ O'Mara 2003, pp. 32–33
- ^ O'Mara 2003, pp. 34–35
- ^ O'Mara 2003, pp. 41–42
- ^ "Nebulous". BBC comedy. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Dynasty star Kate O'Mara dies". BBC News. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "Kate O'Mara - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Dynasty and Triangle star Kate O'Mara dies aged 74". Itv.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- ^ Coveney, Michael (30 March 2014). "Kate O'Mara obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "The Avengers Declassified: The Stage Show". Declassified.theavengers.tv. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
Bibliography
- O'Mara, Kate (2003). Vamp Until Ready: A Life Laid Bare. Robson Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1861057006.
External links
- Kate O'Mara at IMDb