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{{Short description|British actress (1940–2023)}}
'''Brigit Forsyth''', born ] ], in ] ], is an actress. She is married to director ].
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brigit Forsyth
| birth_name = Brigit Dorothea Connell
| image = Brigit Forsyth resize.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|7|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ], United Kingdom
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|12|1|1940|7|28|df=y}}
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1975|1999|end=separated}}
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1960–2021
| children = 2
}}


'''Brigit Dorothea Mills''' (28 July 1940 – 1 December 2023), better known by her stage name '''Brigit Forsyth''', was a British actress from ], England, best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the ] comedy '']''<ref>{{Cite web | last = Parkes | first = Diane | title = Whatever Happened to Brigit Forsyth? | work = Birmingham Post | url = http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/theatre-in-birmingham/2010/05/07/whatever-happened-to-brigit-forsyth-65233-26383061/ | access-date = 20 April 2011 | archive-date = 29 September 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929000418/http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/theatre-in-birmingham/2010/05/07/whatever-happened-to-brigit-forsyth-65233-26383061/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> and Helen Yeldham in the ] drama'' ]''. From 2013 to 2019, Forsyth appeared in the BBC comedy '']''.
TV programs she has had a leading role in include '']'' as Thelma, ''The Glamour Girls'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. She has also guested on '']'', '']''. '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and others.
<br>
{{UK-actor-stub}}


==Early life==
]
Forsyth was born as Brigit Dorothea Connell, on 28 July 1940<ref name="hayward2">{{Cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |date=3 December 2023 |title=Brigit Forsyth obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/03/brigit-forsyth-obituary |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> in ], ], England.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jenny |last=Amplett |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/929584763/ |title=Actress Brigit Forsyth reflects on Corrie and middle age |work=Stafford Post |date= 4 June 1998 |access-date=3 December 2023 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Her grandfather was a doctor in the town and delivered her. Her mother, Anne (nee Forsyth)<ref name="hayward">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/03/brigit-forsyth-obituary|title=Brigit Forsyth obituary|first=Anthony|last=Hayward|date=3 December 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> was a painter, and her father, Frank James Connell,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://player.fm/series/short-stories-by-brigit-forsyth|title=Short Stories by Brigit Forsyth|first=|last=|date=7 October 2022|website=player.fm}}</ref> an ] and ] in ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/theatre-news/yorkshire-born-brigit-forsyths-life-treading-3063733|title=Yorkshire-born Brigit Forsyth's life treading the boards|first=Marion|last=McMullen|date=21 May 2010|website=Coventry Live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The World Who's Who of Women, Volume 2 |date=1974 |publisher=Melrose Press |pages=394 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QqY-AQAAIAAJ&q=Brigit+Forsyth+28+July+1940 |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> After leaving ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stge.org.uk/alumnae/famous-old-girls|title=Notable Alumnae » St George's School For Girls|website=Stge.org.uk|access-date=1 September 2016|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313031622/https://www.stge.org.uk/alumnae/famous-old-girls/|url-status=dead}}</ref> in Edinburgh, Forsyth trained as a secretary before enrolling at the ] in London, where she won the ].<ref name="BWO">{{cite web |last1=Cristi |first1=A.A. |title=Killing Time Makes US Premiere At Brits Off Broadway |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/KILLING-TIME-Makes-US-Premiere-At-Brits-Off-Broadway-At-59E59-Theaters-20190228 |website=Broadway World |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>

==Career==
Forsyth began her professional career in Edinburgh with the ] (1960–61). She then moved to the ], ], (1961–62) and in 1962 to the ] Players in ]. On her return to Lincoln, she changed her professional name to Forsyth.<ref name="hayward"/> Her film career began with the ]-scripted '']'' (1971), playing a district nurse. Her film work also included a version of '']'' (1976) as Thelma Ferris.<ref name="BBCO">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67590697|title=Brigit Forsyth: Still Open All Hours actress dies aged 83|date=1 December 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|website=BBC News}}</ref>

Forsyth played the ] from the age of nine, but abandoned it once she went to drama school; her ability was employed when, in 2004, she was cast in the lead role in ''Cello and the Nightingale'', a play about internationally known cellist ] that premiered at ]<ref>{{Cite web| title = Sweet music from the Likely Lass | work = The Northern Echo | date = 10 May 2004 | url = https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/6991622.sweet-music-likely-lass/ | access-date = 20 April 2011 }}</ref> and in ''Killing Time'' (2019), an off-Broadway production in which she played the instrument and wrote the music.<ref name="BWO" />

Forsyth's best-known television work was '']'' as Thelma Chambers / Thelma Ferris (1972–74).<ref name="GUO">{{cite news |title=Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? star Brigit Forsyth dies at 83 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/01/whatever-happened-to-the-likely-lads-star-brigit-forsyth-dies-at-83 |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=1 December 2023}}</ref> She also appeared in ''The Glamour Girls'' (1980–82) as Veronica Haslett; '']'' (1983) as Harriet Maddison,<ref name="BBCO" /> ''The Practice'' as Dr. Judith Vincent (1986),<ref name="BBCO" /> '']'' as Elsie Beecroft (1984–85),<ref name="BBCO" /> '']'' (BBC1, 1998) as Francine Pratt,<ref name="GUO" /> and '']'' (ITV, 1989) as Helen Yeldham.<ref name="BBCO" /> She guest-starred in a number of other television shows such as '']'', '']'' (], 1967), '']'' and '']''.<ref name="BBCO" />

In 1997 she appeared in a one-off sketch as the party host, in '']'', in which Enfield parodies both ex-] (DUP) leader Rev ] and ] president ] at a house party.

In 2002, Forsyth was the subject of '']'' when she was surprised by ] at ].<ref name="BBCO" /> Forsyth appeared in the 2013 Christmas special of '']'' and returned for a full series on 26 December 2014 as Madge, sister of ]'s character Mavis.<ref name="GUO" /> In 2003 she made her first appearance at ] in their production of '']'', directed by Ian Talbot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openairtheatreheritage.com/actors/brigit-forsyth/W5KInx8AAAOWHEYD|title=Brigit Forsyth &#124; Our Heritage &#124; Open Air Theatre|website=openairtheatreheritage.com}}</ref>

In 2013, Forsyth appeared as Mrs. Jennings in ]'s ] adaptation of ]'s '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/32/r4-sense-sun|title=Sense And Sensibility – Media Centre|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> and as the recurring character of Pearl in '']''.<ref name="BBCO" />

Her stage work included '']'' in 2008 and ]'s ''People'' in 2013.<ref name="BWO" /> She had previously appeared in a Radio 4 production of Bennett's '']'' in which she played the part of Coral Browne.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Karen |title=Single Spies by Alan Bennett |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/single-spies-by-alan-bennett-performed-by-simon-callow-brigit-forsyth-edward-petherbridge-and-prunella-scales-dcfhfnr80xb |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Times |date=8 October 2006}}</ref> In 2015, she appeared in ''Now This is Not the End'' at the ] in London.<ref name="BWO" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/now-this-is-not-the-end/|title=Now This Is Not The End|date=19 January 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Forsyth was married to television director ] from 1975, until his death in 2006, although they had separated in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Hayward |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/brian-mills-409180.html |title=Obituary: Brian Mills |work=] |date= 25 July 2006 |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> They had two children.

Forsyth died on 1 December 2023, at the age of 83.<ref name="BBCO" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/brigit-forsyth-dead-star-whatever-happened-to-the-likely-lads-83-1235649550/|title=Brigit Forsyth Dead: Veteran Star Of British Comedy Was 83|date=2 December 2023 |publisher=Deadline}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1971 || '']''<ref>https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20150034528 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> || District Nurse ||
|-
|1976 || '']'' || Thelma Ferris ||
|-
|1987 || ''Crystalstone''{{cn|date=December 2023}} || Isabel ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0287027|name=Brigit Forsyth}}
*{{discogs artist|Brigit Forsyth}}
* at podbean.com: short stories written and read by Forsyth, based on real childhood memories from the 1940s, with original piano music by her father, Frank James Connell (published 2022)

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forsyth, Brigit}}
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Latest revision as of 13:50, 5 December 2024

British actress (1940–2023)

Brigit Forsyth
BornBrigit Dorothea Connell
(1940-07-28)28 July 1940
Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Died1 December 2023(2023-12-01) (aged 83)
OccupationActress
Years active1960–2021
Spouse Brian Mills ​ ​(m. 1975; sep. 1999)​
Children2

Brigit Dorothea Mills (28 July 1940 – 1 December 2023), better known by her stage name Brigit Forsyth, was a British actress from Malton, England, best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? and Helen Yeldham in the ITV drama Boon. From 2013 to 2019, Forsyth appeared in the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours.

Early life

Forsyth was born as Brigit Dorothea Connell, on 28 July 1940 in Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England. Her grandfather was a doctor in the town and delivered her. Her mother, Anne (nee Forsyth) was a painter, and her father, Frank James Connell, an architect and town planner in Edinburgh. After leaving St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh, Forsyth trained as a secretary before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she won the Emile Littler Award.

Career

Forsyth began her professional career in Edinburgh with the Gateway Theatre Company (1960–61). She then moved to the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, (1961–62) and in 1962 to the Arthur Brough Players in Folkestone. On her return to Lincoln, she changed her professional name to Forsyth. Her film career began with the Roald Dahl-scripted The Night Digger (1971), playing a district nurse. Her film work also included a version of The Likely Lads (1976) as Thelma Ferris.

Forsyth played the cello from the age of nine, but abandoned it once she went to drama school; her ability was employed when, in 2004, she was cast in the lead role in Cello and the Nightingale, a play about internationally known cellist Beatrice Harrison that premiered at York Theatre Royal and in Killing Time (2019), an off-Broadway production in which she played the instrument and wrote the music.

Forsyth's best-known television work was Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? as Thelma Chambers / Thelma Ferris (1972–74). She also appeared in The Glamour Girls (1980–82) as Veronica Haslett; Tom, Dick and Harriet (1983) as Harriet Maddison, The Practice as Dr. Judith Vincent (1986), Sharon and Elsie as Elsie Beecroft (1984–85), Playing the Field (BBC1, 1998) as Francine Pratt, and Boon (ITV, 1989) as Helen Yeldham. She guest-starred in a number of other television shows such as The Bill, Doctor Who (The Evil of the Daleks, 1967), Agatha Christie's Poirot and Coronation Street.

In 1997 she appeared in a one-off sketch as the party host, in Harry Enfield & Chums, in which Enfield parodies both ex-Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Rev Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams at a house party.

In 2002, Forsyth was the subject of This Is Your Life when she was surprised by Michael Aspel at Broadcasting House. Forsyth appeared in the 2013 Christmas special of Still Open All Hours and returned for a full series on 26 December 2014 as Madge, sister of Maggie Ollerenshaw's character Mavis. In 2003 she made her first appearance at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in their production of High Society, directed by Ian Talbot.

In 2013, Forsyth appeared as Mrs. Jennings in Helen Edmundson's BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and as the recurring character of Pearl in Ed Reardon's Week.

Her stage work included Calendar Girls in 2008 and Alan Bennett's People in 2013. She had previously appeared in a Radio 4 production of Bennett's Single Spies in which she played the part of Coral Browne. In 2015, she appeared in Now This is Not the End at the Arcola Theatre in London.

Personal life and death

Forsyth was married to television director Brian Mills from 1975, until his death in 2006, although they had separated in 1999. They had two children.

Forsyth died on 1 December 2023, at the age of 83.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Road Builder District Nurse
1976 The Likely Lads Thelma Ferris
1987 Crystalstone Isabel

References

  1. Parkes, Diane. "Whatever Happened to Brigit Forsyth?". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  2. Hayward, Anthony (3 December 2023). "Brigit Forsyth obituary". The Guardian.
  3. Amplett, Jenny (4 June 1998). "Actress Brigit Forsyth reflects on Corrie and middle age". Stafford Post. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  4. ^ Hayward, Anthony (3 December 2023). "Brigit Forsyth obituary". The Guardian.
  5. "Short Stories by Brigit Forsyth". player.fm. 7 October 2022.
  6. McMullen, Marion (21 May 2010). "Yorkshire-born Brigit Forsyth's life treading the boards". Coventry Live.
  7. The World Who's Who of Women, Volume 2. Melrose Press. 1974. p. 394. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  8. "Notable Alumnae » St George's School For Girls". Stge.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  9. ^ Cristi, A.A. "Killing Time Makes US Premiere At Brits Off Broadway". Broadway World. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Brigit Forsyth: Still Open All Hours actress dies aged 83". BBC News. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. "Sweet music from the Likely Lass". The Northern Echo. 10 May 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? star Brigit Forsyth dies at 83". The Guardian. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  13. "Brigit Forsyth | Our Heritage | Open Air Theatre". openairtheatreheritage.com.
  14. "Sense And Sensibility – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. Robinson, Karen (8 October 2006). "Single Spies by Alan Bennett". The Times. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  16. "Now This Is Not The End". 19 January 2016.
  17. Hayward, Anthony (25 July 2006). "Obituary: Brian Mills". The Independent. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  18. "Brigit Forsyth Dead: Veteran Star Of British Comedy Was 83". Deadline. 2 December 2023.
  19. https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20150034528

External links

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