# Ania Marson

Ania Marson (born 22 May 1949) is an Anglo-Polish actress. Her roles include playing the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), and the demon Voleth Meir, 'the Deathless Mother' in The Witcher (2021).

## Early life

Ania Marson was born May 22, 1949, in Gdynia, Pomorskie Voivodeship, Poland. She studied acting at the Corona Stage Academy.

## Career

In 1963, Marson appeared on television in the series Dixon of Dock Green, then in other series such as The Troubleshooters in 1968 and Detective in 1969. In the 1970s, she appeared in Puppet on a Chain, and Nicholas and Alexandra in 1971, in which she played the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia. She subsequently appeared in Emma in 1972, The Abdication (1974), Blake's 7 (1978). and Bad Timing in 1980.
In 2011 she appeared as Diana in Home Death, directed by Fiona Morrell, at the Finborough Theatre. In 2015, after a twenty-five year absence from film and television, she appeared as Olga Kowalski in an episode of Foyle's War.
In 2021, she played the demon Voleth Meir, 'the Deathless Mother' which feeds on misery, pain, and hate, in season two, for five episodes of The Witcher, alongside Anya Chalotra.

## Family

Ania Marson married director Derek Lister on 3 September 1977. They have two daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | Puppet on a Chain | Astrid Lemay | |
| 1971 | Nicholas and Alexandra | Olga | |
| 1974 | The Abdication | Ebba Sparre | |
| 1980 | Bad Timing | Dr. Schneider | |
| 1990 | Luba | Luba (voice) | |
| 2012 | The Parachute Ball | Lilly | Short |
| 2015 | The Amityville Playhouse | Celia Nightingale | |
| 2015 | Howl | Jenny | |
| 2016 | Heretiks | Sister Elizabeth | |
| 2016 | Don't Knock Twice | Mary Aminov | |
| 2016 | If You Can Dream It | Marcia | Short |
| 2017 | 2036: Nexus Dawn | Lawmaker No. 4 | Short |
| 2017 | Sunburn | Matron | Post-production |
| 2022 | See How They Run | Mother | |
| 2023 | Unwelcome | Mother Redcap | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1963 | Dixon of Dock Green | Tessa Baker Ellis | "A Strange Affair" |
| 1968 | Dixon of Dock Green | Ania Green / Nora King | "Ania", "Find the Lady" |
| 1968 | The Troubleshooters | Angelica | "The Day the Sea Caught Fire" |
| 1969 | Armchair Theatre | Jenny Brophy | "The Brophy Story" |
| 1969 | Z-Cars | Nurse | "Allegation: Part 1" |
| 1969 | Detective | Pamela Bryce | "Elimination Round" |
| 1970 | Special Branch | Karin | "Not to Be Trusted" |
| 1971 | Casanova | Anne Roman-Coupier | TV miniseries |
| 1972 | Play of the Month | Jessica | "The Merchant of Venice" |
| 1972 | Emma | Jane Fairfax | TV miniseries |
| 1972 | The Strauss Family | Olga Smithitska | "Josef" |
| 1975 | Moll Flanders | Phillipa | TV film |
| 1976 | Victorian Scandals | Katie Cook | "The Frontiers of Science" |
| 1976 | Within These Walls | Sarah | "Islands in the Heartline" |
| 1977 | Leap in the Dark | Ilse Lindgren | "The Fetch" |
| 1977 | Supernatural | Dorabella | "Dorabella" |
| 1977 | Marie Curie | Madame Kavalska | TV miniseries |
| 1977 | Target | Ros | Recurring role - 5 episodes |
| 1978 | Blake's 7 | Geela | "The Web" |
| 1988 | Screenplay | Dr. Wilson | "Eskimos Do It" |
| 1990 | Screen Two | Lazareva | "Small Zones" |
| 2015 | Foyle's War | Olga Kowalski | "Trespass" |
| 2015 | Midwinter of the Spirit | Mrs. Joy | TV miniseries - All 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Home Fires | Mrs. Esposito | "2.1" |
| 2017 | Silent Witness | Grace Hockney | "Discovery: Part 2" |
| 2017 | Doctors | Mrs. Sue Dryden | "Do Geese See God?" |
| 2018 | Killing Eve | Ethel Rubynovitch | "Nice Face" |
| 2019 & 2021 | Ghosts | Lady Heather Button | "Who Do You Think You Are" & "A Lot to Take In" |
| 2021 | The Witcher | Voleth Meir, 'the Deathless Mother' | Season 2 - 5 episodes |