Gwen Nelson

Gwen Nelson
Gwendoline Alexandra Nelson (30 June 1901 – 15 October 1990) was an English actress who was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre Company.
Born in Muswell Hill, London, she originally intended to be a singer, and made her West End musical debut in Tough at the Top at the Adelphi Theatre in July 1949. She went on to act in Eleanor Farjeon's The Silver Curlew at London's Arts Theatre (1949), And So To Bed at the New Theatre (1951), Oh, My Papa at the Garrick Theatre (1957), Virtue in Danger (1963), All in Love at The May Fair Theatre (1964), and Saved at the Royal Court Theatre (1965). In 1976 she appeared in a revival of Arnold Ridley's The Ghost Train at the Old Vic Theatre in London with Wilfrid Brambell, James Villiers, Geoffrey Davies, Allan Cuthbertson and Judy Buxton. In 1981 she acted in Rose by Andrew Davies at the Richmond Theatre in Surrey with Honor Blackman and Hilda Braid.
Her television appearances included Z-Cars (1962–72), No Hiding Place (1960–64), ITV Playhouse (1969-1980), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1970) (in the episode The Trouble with Women), Catweazle (1970–71), Jude the Obscure (1971), Callan (1972), Clochemerle (1972), Steptoe and Son (1974), Looking For Clancy (1975), Juliet Bravo (1981), Terry and June (1983), Shine on Harvey Moon (1984), Casualty (1988), Clarence (1988), Hill Street Blues (1989), and Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1989).
She acted in the films Ah, Wilderness! (1938), Laugh With Me (1938), The Teckman Mystery (1954), Tunes of Glory (1960), A Kind of Loving (1962), Stolen Hours (1963), Doctor Zhivago (1965), The Reckoning (1969), Staircase (1969), Say Hello to Yesterday (1971), Love Among the Ruins (1975), It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1976), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) and 84 Charing Cross (1987).
Nelson's last appearance was in an episode of The Bill in 1989. She died of natural causes in Long Melford, Suffolk, aged 89.
Filmography
Film
Ah, Wilderness! (1938) - Aunt Lily (1939 TV play)
Laugh With Me (1938) - Ann Bonnington (TV play)
The Teckman Mystery (1954) - Duty woman
The Entertainer (1960)
Tunes of Glory (1960) - Provost's Wife
The Kitchen (1961) - 8th Waitress
A Kind of Loving (1962) - Mrs. Brown
Don't Talk to Strange Men (1962) - Mrs. Mason
Stolen Hours (1963) - Hospital Sister
The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963) - Ms. McCloud
Doctor Zhivago (1965) - Female Janitor
Staircase (1969) - Matron
The Reckoning (1970) - Marler's Mother
Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) - Char
Something to Hide (1972) - 2nd Old Lady
Love Among the Ruins (1975) - Hermione Davis
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1976) - Mrs. Kirby
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) - Lady in Courtroom
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - Hotel Manager's Mother
84 Charing Cross (1987) - Bill's Great Aunt
Television
Z-Cars (1962–72)
No Hiding Place (1960–64)
ITV Playhouse (1969-1980)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1970) (episode: "The Trouble with Women") - Mrs. Halloway
Catweazle (1970–71)
Jude the Obscure (1971)
Callan (1972)
Clochemerle (1972)
Steptoe and Son (1974)
Looking For Clancy (1975) - Meg Mace
Juliet Bravo (1981)
Terry and June (1983)
Shine on Harvey Moon (1984)
Casualty (1988)
Clarence (1988) (episode 6) - Mrs Titheridge
Hill Street Blues (1989)
Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1989)
The Bill (1989)
Theatre
Tough at the Top (1949) at the Adelphi Theatre
The Silver Curlew (1949) at London's Arts Theatre
And So to Bed (1951) at New Theatre
Oh, My Papa (1957) at Garrick Theatre
Virtue in Danger (1963)
All in Love (1964) at The May Fair Theatre
Saved (1965) at Royal Court Theatre
The Ghost Train (1976! at Old Vic Theatre
Rose (1961) at Richmond Theatre, Surrey
The Chairs (1980) at Royal Exchange, Manchester
References
External links
1901 births
1990 deaths
English film actresses
English television actresses
English stage actresses
20th-century English actresses
Royal Shakespeare Company members
People from Muswell Hill
Actresses from London