Gillian Elizabeth Thomas (born 10 August 1953) is a Welsh actress, singer, and comedian. Early in her career she was known as Gillian Elisa Thomas.
Gillian Elisa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gillian Elizabeth Thomas 10 August 1953 Carmarthen, Wales |
| Alma mater | Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1978-present |
Early life and education
editElisa was born in Carmarthen, Wales, and brought up in Lampeter;[1] she began acting before she started school. As a sixth-former at Ysgol Gyfun Llanbedr-Pont Steffan in Lampeter, she co-wrote a Welsh-language musical, Yr Enfys (The Rainbow). After leaving school, she studied at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
Career
editIn 1975, she was chosen by producer Endaf Emlyn to play the lead in a Welsh-language rock opera.[1] Since that time, she has been a well-known figure on Welsh-language television.
On S4C television, she played (1974–2010) the part of Sabrina Daniels in the long-running soap Pobol y Cwm[2] and the comic character "Mrs O.T.T." in the variety entertainment programme Noson Lawen. She appeared in the gangster drama series Y Pris. She has performed one-woman comedy shows at the Edinburgh Festival. As a singer, she has completed three albums of new and traditional Welsh songs – Rhywbeth yn y Glas, Haul ar Nos Hir, and Lawr Y Lein, as well as appearing on a number of other recordings.
She is best known to English-speaking audiences for her leading role in the 2018 drama series Hidden, which was filmed in both Welsh and English,[3] Elisa travelled around Wales with fellow actress Ruth Jones as part of the Welsh language show Iath Ar Daith, which shows celebrities learning Welsh and putting it to practice.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Coming Up Roses | Sian | |
| 1991 | Body Beautiful | Sonia / Shopkeeper / Beryl's Mom | |
| 1997 | Twin Town | Pat | |
| 1999 | The Last Seduction II | Barbara | |
| 2012 | Rain: An Original Musical | Mrs. Coots | |
| 2014 | Billy Elliot the Musical Live | Alternate Grandma / Ensemble | |
| 2019 | 2nd Date Sex | Val | |
| 2022 | Save the Cinema | Town clerk |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Hawkmoor | Elinor | Episode #1.2 |
| 1978 | Dylan | Lady in Swansea pub | Television film |
| 1979 | Heyday in the Blood | Beti | |
| 1979 | Border Country | ||
| 1980, 2004 | Pobol y Cwm | Sabrina Daniels | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | The Life and Times of David Lloyd George | Anita | 4 episodes |
| 1981 | Taff Acre | Yvonne Jenkins | 10 episodes |
| 1984 | The Magnificent Evans | Dorinda | Episode #1.2 |
| 1988 | The Snow Spider | Mrs. Davies | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Screen One | Phoebe | Episode: "Sticky Wickets" |
| 1991 | A Mind to Kill | WPS Alison | Television film |
| 1992 | Forever Green | Mary Powell | Episode #2.9 |
| 1992 | The Winter Stallion | Mrs. Howard | Television film |
| 1994–1997 | A Mind to Kill | WPS Alison | 13 episodes |
| 1995, 1996 | Gogs | Voice | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Mortimer's Law | Jane Harris | |
| 2007 | High Hopes | Chlamydia | Episode: "Dead Man Walking" |
| 2007 | Y Pris | Anne | 5 episodes |
| 2007, 2009 | Gavin & Stacey | Welsh Nationalist / Lingerie Lady | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Ar y Tracs | Eluned Hughes | Television film |
| 2010 | Sherlock | Surgery Receptionist | Episode: "The Blind Banker" |
| 2011 | Ar y Tracs: Y Tren i'r Gem | Eluned Hughes | Television film |
| 2011 | Zanzibar | Eiriona | Episode #1.6 |
| 2011–2012 | Alys | Heulwen | 16 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Stella | Nana Pat / Mrs. Evans | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Bang | Liz | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Hidden | Iona Harris | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | 35 Awr | Val | 8 episodes |
| 2020 | Holby City | Grace Allan | Episode #22.14 |
| 2021 | The Pact | Gwen | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Jam | Mags | 4 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b "Gillian Elisa - Biography". Sain. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Pobol y Cwm actress helps at annual gala". WalesOnline. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ Lydia Morris (16 June 2018). "There's a big problem with the accents in BBC One's new crime drama Hidden according to some viewers". Daily Post. Retrieved 13 December 2018.