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Siân Phillips

Siân Phillips

Actor · Born May 14, 1933 (93) · Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales

Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips DBE (born 14 May 1933), known professionally as Siân Phillips, is a Welsh actress, author and singer. Phillips was the daughter of Sally (née Thomas), a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker-turned-policeman. She is a Welsh-speaker and in the first volume of her autobiography, "Private Faces", she notes that she spoke only Welsh for much of her childhood, learning English by listening to the radio. She attended Pontardawe Grammar School and later read English and Philosophy at University College Cardiff, graduating in 1955. She entered RADA in LOndon, England with a scholarship in September 1955, the same year as Diana Rigg and Glenda Jackson. She went on to win the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal for Hedda Gabler and was offered work in Hollywood when she left RADA. While still a student she was offered three film contracts, entailing her to work for an extended period of time in the United States; but she declined, preferring to work on stage instead.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 14, 1933 (93)
From
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales
Works as
Actor
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 108 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are Siân Phillips' films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Self
23%
Society
14%
Power
13%
Morality
10%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 3 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 6
Herald
2 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
10
Hopeful
8
Melancholic
8
Bittersweet
6
Tense
5
Other
21

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet14

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Siân Phillips' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Siân Phillips' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

108 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Emperor: Rise & Fall of a Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • Apple Cider Vinegar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Voice

  • Doctor Who(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Enid Meadows

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • The Chelsea Detective(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandma Dix

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • A Year in the Beacons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator

  • National Theatre Live: Under Milk Wood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Mrs Utah Watkins / Polly Garter / Mrs Beyon

  • Dream Horse(2020)

    as Maureen

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Carol(2020)

    as Grandmother / narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Summerland(2020)

    as Margaret Corey

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • McDonald & Dodds(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes Gillian

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • National Theatre Live: Les Blancs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Madame Neilsen

  • Time & Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Eleanor

  • Be Happy!(2019)

    as Maria

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Good Omens(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Henderson

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Nureyev: Lifting the Curtain(2018)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • To Provide All People(2018)

    as Patient

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Miss Dalí (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Anna Maria Dalí

  • Voyageuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Erica

  • Hochelaga, Land of Souls(2017)

    as Sarah Walker

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Aberfan: The Green Hollow(2016)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Under Milk Wood(2014)

    as Mrs. Pugh

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • A Picture of London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator

  • Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as May

  • Lovesong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Maggie

  • The Mountain That Had To Be Painted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator

  • Inspector Lewis(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Adele Goffe

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Murder Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Marie Strickland

  • The Last Detective(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Vera Dulciman

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Stalin: Inside the Terror(2003)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Attila (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Grandmother

  • Cinderella(2000)

    as Evil Baroness

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Come and Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Ru

  • The Magician's House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 12 episodes · as Meg Lewis

  • Aristocrats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator/Older Lady Emily Lennox

  • Aristocrats(1999)

    Show as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Alice Through the Looking Glass(1998)

    as Red Queen

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Scold's Bridle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mathilda Gillespie

  • The Scold's Bridle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mathilda

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Annabel Butler

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • La Femme Nikita(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Adrian

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Ivanhoe(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • House of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mam

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Beattie Elletson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Mousehole Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator

  • The Vacillations of Poppy Carew(1995)

    as Calypso

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Return of the Borrowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mrs. Driver

  • The Age of Innocence(1993)

    as Mrs. Archer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Heidi(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frau Sesemann

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Borrowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mrs. Driver

  • The Chestnut Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Nain Griffiths

  • Tonight at 8.30 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Faber · as Clare Wedderburn · as Olive Lloyd-Ransome

  • The Black Candle(1991)

    as Daisy Barnett

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Emlyn's Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Nain Griffiths

  • Perfect Scoundrels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother Aloysius

  • Red Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 7 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • Dark River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mrs. Blessington

  • Valmont(1989)

    as Madame de Volanges

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Shadow of the Noose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Scott

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Laura Upward

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • David Macaulay: Pyramid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Mersyankh (voice)

  • The Snow Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Nain Griffiths

  • Vanity Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · as Matilda Crawley

  • A Killing on the Exchange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 5 episodes · as Isobel Makepeace

  • The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Duchess of Windsor

  • Ewoks: The Battle for Endor(1985)

    as Charal

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Doctor and the Devils(1985)

    as Annabella Rock

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dune(1984)

    as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • How Many Miles to Babylon? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mrs Alicia Moore

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 8 episodes · as Clementine Churchill

  • Clash of the Titans(1981)

    as Cassiopeia

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Carpathian Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mrs. Henska

  • Hammer House of Horror(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Henska

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Nijinsky(1980)

    as Lady Ripon

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Smiley

  • Crime and Punishment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Katerina Ivánovna

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Hermione

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Warrior Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 6 episodes · as Queen Boudicca

  • Heartbreak House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Hesione Hushabye

  • The Achurch Letters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Janet Achurch

  • I, Claudius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Livia

  • How Green Was My Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 6 episodes · as Beth Morgan

  • Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mrs. Patrick Campbell

  • Shoulder to Shoulder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 6 episodes · as Emmeline Pankhurst

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Alicia Moore · as Janet Achurch

  • Under Milk Wood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard

  • Platonov (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Anna

  • Murphy's War(1971)

    as Hayden

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye, Mr. Chips(1969)

    as Ursula Mossbank

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • W. Somerset Maugham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Jones

  • Laughter in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Lady Pamela More

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Sally Stirling

  • The Sex Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Louisa

  • Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Woman

  • It’s Dearer After Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Jo

  • City '68 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Jo

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as May Bartram

  • Half Hour Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as A Girl

  • Eh, Joe? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Voice

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Anna Voinitseva · as Hesione Hushabye · as The Duchesse of Berwich

  • Young Cassidy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Ella

  • Becket(1964)

    as Gwendolen

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Espionage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Anna

  • Don Juan in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Dona Ana

  • The Longest Day(1962)

    as WRNS Officer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Carole Blair

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Lavery

  • Frank and Percy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles, 106 of them dated from 1951 to 2024; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office

Clash of the Titans (1981)

$41M worldwide

Highest rated

Summerland (2020)

Midcredits 88th

Most popular right now

Valmont (1989)

Film career

19512024

Peak 2021 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s18 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s23 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s15 · acting2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 8% of 13 roles
6489

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Siân Phillips' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Aberfan: The Green Hollow (2016)

94th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Longest Day (1962)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Siân Phillips' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 7 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Siân Phillips work with?

People who share at least 2 of Siân Phillips' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Sheen shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers