>Tassedethe at 19:04, 19 June 2021

2021-06-19T19:04:06Z

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{{short description|British actress|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Isla Blair
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|09|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1965–present
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Julian Glover]]|1968}}
| children = [[Jamie Glover]]
}}

'''Isla Blair''' (born 29 September 1944) is a British actress and singer. She made her first stage appearance in 1963 as Philia in the London debut of ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]''.

==Biography==
Isla Blair was born in [[Bangalore]], India, on 29 September 1944.<ref name="who">{{cite encyclopedia|title=BLAIR, Isla |encyclopedia=Who's Who in the Theatre|volume=1|pages=70–71|publisher=Gale Research Company|year=1981|issn=0083-9833 |editor-first=Ian |editor-last=Herbert}}</ref> Her father, Ian Baxter Blair-Hill, was a British tea planter of Scottish descent. Blair's interest in performing arts first became apparent when, at the age of two, she gave an impromptu singing performance on the boat ride from India to England.<ref name="interview">{{cite web |title=Interview with Isla Blair |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/people/ibinterview.html |last=Moore |first=Fiona |website=Faction Paradox |access-date=9 November 2010 }}</ref>

She went on to attend the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] to prepare for a career in acting. She is married to fellow actor [[Julian Glover]],<ref name="who"/> with whom she has a son, actor [[Jamie Glover]].<ref name=Obsvr>{{cite news |last1=John |first1=Emma |title=Actors Julian Glover and Isla Blair on their 48-year relationship |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/12/actors-julian-glover-and-isla-blair-on-their-48-year-relationship |access-date=17 October 2014|newspaper=[[The Observer]] |date=12 October 2014}}</ref> Along with [[Prunella Scales]], Blair and Glover were involved with the expansion of the [[Salisbury Playhouse]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Prunella Scales @ Playhouse |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2007/07/10/prunella_scales_playhouse_feature.shtml |website=BBC |date=July 2007 |access-date=9 November 2010}}</ref> She was Vice President of TACT, the Actors' Children's Trust in 2015 and Trustee in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://actorschildren.org/our-history/tact-agm-2015-0967/ |title=TACT AGM 2015 |website=ACT – The Actors' Children's Trust}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.actorschildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ACT-Newsletter-2018_Web.pdf |journal=ACT Newsletter |title=Trustees |page=1 |date=2018 |publisher=The Actors' Children's Trust}}</ref>

== Career ==
Isla Blair made her first stage appearance at the [[Novello Theatre|Strand Theatre]] on 3 October 1963 playing the part of Philia in the London debut of ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]''. She joined the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] for their 1971 season, during which she portrayed Emilia in ''[[The Man of Mode]]'' and Aglaya in ''[[Subject to Fits]]''. In 1973, Blair toured the [[Middle East]] with the [[Prospect Theatre Company]] in the role of [[Viola (Twelfth Night)|Viola]] in ''[[Twelfth Night]]''. Other venues at which Blair has performed include the [[Old Vic]] and the [[Nottingham Playhouse]].<ref name="who"/>

One of Blair's earliest experiences working in film was in a scene with [[Paul McCartney]] in the 1964 film ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''. McCartney offered to drive Blair home after the shoot, but upon exiting the building, the two were swarmed by fans who scratched and kicked Blair in an attempt to reach McCartney.<ref name="interview"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Paul McCartney: A Life |page =101 |last=Carlin |first=Peter Ames |publisher=Touchstone |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4165-6209-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8R4LS2LYxYC&q=isla+blair&pg=PA101}}</ref> The following day, she declined a second offer of a ride from McCartney. The scene they had been filming, which was Blair's only scene in the movie, was eventually cut and lost.<ref name="interview"/>

Her first credited film appearance was in the 1965 horror film ''[[Dr. Terror's House of Horrors]]'' as an art gallery assistant. Her other film appearances include ''[[A Flea in Her Ear (film)|A Flea in Her Ear]]'' (1968), ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]'' (1969), ''[[Taste the Blood of Dracula]]'' (1970), ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' (1989, as the wife of her real-life husband [[Julian Glover]], and credited as Mrs. Glover), ''[[Valmont (film)|Valmont]]'' (1989), ''[[The Monk (1990 film)|The Monk]]'' (1990), ''[[The House of Angelo]]'' (1997), ''[[The Match (1999 film)|The Match]]'' (1999), ''[[Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War]]'' (2002), ''[[AfterLife (film)|AfterLife]]'' (2003) and ''[[Johnny English Reborn]]'' (2011). <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj71pJABFFU |title=Johnny English Reborn (3/10) Movie CLIP - You've Met Your Matchstick (2011) |date=30 August 2016 |author=Movieclips |website=YouTube}}</ref>

Blair guest starred in two episodes of ''[[Space: 1999]]''; appearing in 1975, along with [[Anthony Valentine]], in ''[[War Games (Space: 1999)|War Games]]'' and in 1976, along with [[Freddie Jones]], in ''[[Journey to Where]]''. In 1976, Blair played Emma Antrobus in the ITV drama series ''[[The Crezz]]''. She played a principal role (Sally) in the [[BBC]]'s [[alternate history]] TV serial ''[[An Englishman's Castle]]'', first broadcast in 1978. One of her best known TV appearances was as Flora Beniform in ''[[The History Man (TV series)|The History Man]]'' (1981) alongside [[Anthony Sher]]. Blair played Claire Carlsen, [[Francis Urquhart]]'s Parliamentary Private Secretary, in ''[[The Final Cut (TV serial)|The Final Cut]]'' (1995). In 2003, she played opposite [[John Nettles]] in an episode of [[Midsomer Murders]] as a psychological profiler. She played Nanny Langton in ''The Star of Jacob'', ''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]'' (S5:E1, 2016).
She played the part of a foreign agent, disguised as a bride, in The Avengers episode "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Station". (1967)

In 2010, she appeared at The [[Orange Tree Theatre]], Richmond in ''The Company Man'' by [[Torben Betts]]. She was nominated for an Off West End Award as Best Actress. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/person.php?code=2906&pg=k9c |title=Isla Blair |website=Doctor Who Guide}}</ref>

Blair has narrated many audiobooks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search results for Isla Blair |url=http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/advancedSearch.do?buttonClicked=1&author=Isla+Blair&searchType=2 |website=Waterstones |access-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621135332/http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/advancedSearch.do?buttonClicked=1&author=Isla+Blair&searchType=2 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Isla Blair narrated Audio Books |url=http://www.simplyaudiobooks.com/audio-books-narrator/Isla+Blair/nrt/2975/?link_num=1& |website=Simply Audiobooks |access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> In 2014–15 she appeared in the stage musical ''[[Made in Dagenham (musical)|Made in Dagenham]]''.

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1964
| ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''
| Actress
| Uncredited
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Dr. Terror's House of Horrors]]''
| Pretty Girl
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="2"|1968
| ''[[A Flea in Her Ear (film)|A Flea in Her Ear]]''
| Antoinette
|
|-
| ''The Three Princes''
| Princess Yasmin
| TV film
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]''
| Mrs. Andy
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1970
| ''[[Taste the Blood of Dracula]]''
| Lucy Paxton
|
|-
| ''The Hero of My Life''
| Ellen Ternan
| TV film
|-
| 1974
| ''[[The Canterville Ghost]]''
| Lady Stutfield
| TV film
|-
| 1976
| ''Alien Attack''
| Female Alien
| TV film
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]''
| Jenny Diver
| TV film
|-
| 1984
| ''Real Life''
| Anna
|
|-
| 1985
| ''Off Peak''
| Elizabeth
| TV film
|-
| rowspan="2"|1989
| ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]''
| Mrs. Donovan
|
|-
| ''[[Valmont (film)|Valmont]]''
| Baroness
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990
| ''[[Treasure Island (1990 film)|Treasure Island]]''
| Mrs. Hawkins
| TV film
|-
| ''[[The Monk (1990 film)|The Monk]]''
| Mother Agueda
|
|-
| 1996
| ''In Your Dreams''
| Jamie's Mother
| TV film
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The House of Angelo]]''
| Peg Wallington
|
|-
| 1998
| ''Heaven on Earth''
| Mary Weston
| TV film
|-
| rowspan="2"|1999
| ''[[The Match (1999 film)|The Match]]''
| Sheila Bailey
|
|-
| ''[[The Greatest Store in the World]]''
| Grand Lady
| TV film
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War]]''
| Matron
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[AfterLife (film)|AfterLife]]''
| Dr. Jackson
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[The Quatermass Experiment (film)|The Quatermass Experiment]]''
| Blaker
| TV film
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Johnny English Reborn]]''
| Shirley
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Brash Young Turks]]''
| Newsreader
| Voice role
|-
| 2017
| ''Amy and Sophia''
| Vivien
|
|-
| 2020
| ''The Reverend and Mrs Simpson''
| Anna Wilson
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1965
| ''Laughter from the Whitehall''
| Rhoda Marley
| Episode: "Rookery Nook"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1966
| ''The Liars''
| Sarah
| Series regular
|-
| ''[[This Man Craig]]''
| Jean Stoddart
| Episode: "A Rough Passage"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1967
| ''[[ITV Play of the Week]]''
| Daphne Stillington
| Episode: "Present Laughter"
|-
| ''[[The Avengers (TV programme)|The Avengers]]''
| Bride
| Episode: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station"
|-
| ''Mickey Dunne''
| Babs Chesterton-Manville
| Episode: "A Handful of Coloured Chalks"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1968
| ''[[Dickie Henderson|The Dickie Henderson Show]]''
| Jane
| Recurring role
|-
| ''[[Gazette (TV series)|Gazette]]''
| Bettie Strickland
| Episode: "In Between the Lines"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1969
| ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]''
| Janine Flambeau
| Episode: "The Ex-King of Diamonds"
|-
| ''[[Department S (TV series)|Department S]]''
| Elaine
| Episode: "The Treasure of the Costa Del Sol"
|-
| 1970-1971
| ''[[The Doctors (1963 TV series)|The Doctors]]''
| Dr. Linda Carpenter
| Series regular
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Jason King (TV series)|Jason King]]''
| Anne Winters
| Episode: "A Red Red Rose Forever"
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Spy Trap]]''
| Marie Hansen
| Episode: "A Visit from Hamburg"
|-
| 1973
| ''[[The Regiment (TV series)|The Regiment]]''
| Lucy Franshaw
| Episode: "Troopship"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1974
| ''[[Fall of Eagles]]''
| Grand Duchess Ella
| Mini-series
|-
| ''[[Warship (1973 TV series)|Warship]]''
| Sarah Foules
| Episode: "Nothing to Starboard"
|-
| rowspan="5"|1975
| ''[[The Venturers]]''
| Joanne Kelly
| Episode: "Gilt Edged"
|-
| ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]''
| Fleur Harris
| Episode: "A Slight Case of Love"
|-
| ''A Legacy''
| Caroline Trafford
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Quiller (TV series)|Quiller]]''
| Germaine Allenby
| Episode: "Sacrifice to Survival"
|-
| rowspan="2"|''[[Space: 1999]]''
| Female Alien
| Episode: "War Games"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1976
| Carla
| Episode: "Journey to Where"
|-
| ''One-Upmanship''
|
| Episode: "Womanship"
|-
| ''[[The Crezz]]''
| Emma Antrobus
| Series regular
|-
| 1976-1977
| ''[[When the Boat Comes In]]''
| Lady Caroline
| 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"|1978
| ''BBC2 Play of the Week''
| Christina
| Episode: "Forgotten Love Songs"
|-
| ''[[Wilde Alliance]]''
| Helen Bardskey
| Episode: "Too Much Too Often"
|-
| ''[[Blake's 7]]''
| Sinofar
| Episode: "Duel"
|-
| ''[[An Englishman's Castle]]''
| Jill
| Mini-series
|-
| rowspan="2"|1981
| ''[[The History Man (TV series)|The History Man]]''
| Flora Beniform
| Mini-series
|-
| ''[[Only When I Laugh (TV series)|Only When I Laugh]]''
| Nurse Bradley
| Episode: "Dear Diary"
|-
| 1982
| ''Alexa''
| Alexa
| Mini-series
|-
| 1982-1983
| ''[[The Bounder]]''
| Laura Miles
| Series regular
|-
| rowspan="2"|1983
| ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]''
| Melissa St. John
| Episode: "Brainwashed: Part 1"
|-
| ''[[Doctor Who]]''
| Isabella
| Episode: "[[The King's Demons]]"
|-
| 1983-1984
| ''[[Storybook International]]''
| Narrator
| Series regular
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense]]''
| Eileen
| Episode: "Tennis Court"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1985
| ''[[Screen Two]]''
| Constance Scott
| Episode: "Poppyland"
|-
| ''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]''
| Eleanor Samson
| Episode: "Murder in Season"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1986
| ''[[Hold the Back Page]]''
| Val Barnett
| Episode: "Our Man on the Spot"
|-
| ''[[King and Castle]]''
| The Honorable Lisa Berkeley
| Episode: "Romance"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1987
| ''[[C.A.T.S. Eyes]]''
| Penny Osmond
| Episode: "Backlash"
|-
| ''Boogie Outlaws''
| Inspector Leesley
| Mini-series
|-
| 1988
| ''Bookie''
| Sylvia Cowan
| Mini-series
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Mother Love (TV series)|Mother Love]]''
| Ruth Vesey
| Mini-series
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Haggard (TV series)|Haggard]]''
| Lady Amelia Foulacre
| Episode: "Eye of Newt"
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]''
| Caroline Mortlake
| Episode: "Pillow Talk"
|-
| 1991-1992
| ''[[The Advocates (TV series)|The Advocates]]''
| Katherine Dunbar
| Series regular
|-
| rowspan="3"|1992
| ''[[The Good Guys (British TV series)|The Good Guys]]''
| Maggie
| Episode: "Horseplay"
|-
| ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]''
| Janey Wilson
| Episode: "Cherubim & Seraphim"
|-
| ''[[The Darling Buds of May (TV series)|The Darling Buds of May]]''
| Caroline Lime
| Episode: "Le Grand Weekend"
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Medics (British TV series)|Medics]]''
| Janet Wendell
| 1 episode
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]''
| Lavinia Martin
| Episode: "Hellfire"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1995
| ''[[The Final Cut (TV serial)|The Final Cut]]''
| Claire Carlsen
| Mini-series
|-
| ''[[Doctor Finlay]]''
| Stroma Kennedy
| Episode: "No Time for Heroes"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| Rosalie Martin
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998
| ''[[The Bill]]''
| Barbara Chambers
| Episode: "Too Many Cooks"
|-
| ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]''
| Elaine Aubrey
| Episode: "Taking Sides"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| ''[[The Mrs Bradley Mysteries]]''
| Myrtle Quincy
| Episode: "The Worsted Viper"
|-
| ''[[Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series)|Dalziel and Pascoe]]''
| Florence Stockton
| Episode: "Foreign Bodies"
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| Mary Harrow
| Episode: "Love and Devotion"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| Dr. Jane Moore
| Episode: "Death and Dreams"
|-
| 2004
| ''[[New Tricks]]''
| Alice Pimley
| Episode: "Good Work Rewarded"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| Agnes Ross
| Episode: "It's Now or Never"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010
| ''[[Single Father (TV series)|Single Father]]''
| Beatty
| Mini-series
|-
| ''[[Law & Order: UK]]''
| Carla Hopley, D.P.P.
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''Quick Cuts''
| Jenny
| 1 episode
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Grantchester (TV series)|Grantchester]]''
| Gladys Sheppard
| 1 episode
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]''
| Nanny Langton
| Episode: "The Star of Jacob"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| Alice Jones
| 1 episode
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{imdb name|0086262}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, Isla}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:British television actresses]]
[[Category:British stage actresses]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]
[[Category:20th-century British actresses]]
[[Category:British voice actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century British actresses]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]

Isla Blair - Revision history

>Tassedethe at 19:04, 19 June 2021