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Dilys Hamlett

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Dilys Hamlett
Born(1928-03-31)31 March 1928
Died7 November 2002(2002-11-07) (aged 74)
OccupationActor
Years active1951–2001
Spouse
(m. 1951; div. 1976)
Children1[1]

Dilys Hamlett (31 March 1928 in South Tidworth, Hampshire – 7 November 2002 in Cupar, Fife) was a British actress.[2]

Early life

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Dilys Hamlett was born on 31 March 1928 in South Tidworth, Hampshire (now in Wiltshire), and developed an early interest in literature and theatre. She studied at the Old Vic Theatre School in the early 1950s and it was there that she met, and married, a fellow student, Caspar Wrede.

Career

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After leaving the theatre school she went immediately into the West End, appearing in The Innocents before performing in several productions for the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company. Although she continued to work in the West End and for theatres throughout Britain she was particularly associated with the group of directors, including her husband, Caspar Wrede, who eventually formed the Royal Exchange Company in Manchester. She worked for Michael Elliott in the 59 Theatre Company and then for Braham Murray in the Century Theatre in Manchester. These two companies led directly to the formation of the 69 Theatre Company and then to the Royal Exchange.

Though primarily known as a theatre actress she also directed a number of theatre productions and appeared in many television plays and films. She appeared as a storyteller on the BBC children's programme Jackanory, and narrated in twenty episodes between 1966 and 1967. Her film career included roles in Mix Me a Person (1962), Assault (1971), What Changed Charley Farthing? (1975), Diagnosis: Murder (1975), The Rainbow (1988), The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1989), The Fool (1990), Harnessing Peacocks (1993), and Hollow Reed (1996).

Her theatre roles included [3] [4]

Personal life

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She married Casper Wrede in 1951 in London. They had one son. They were divorced in 1976.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1962 Mix Me a Person Doris
1962 The Barber of Stamford Hill Mother Uncredited
1971 Assault Mrs. Sanford
1975 What Changed Charley Farthing? Miss Parchment
1975 Diagnosis: Murder Julia Hayward
1989 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Aunt Jane
1990 The Fool Lady Emma
1993 Harnessing Peacocks Lucy Duff
1996 Hollow Reed School Nurse

Bibliography

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  • The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976–1998. The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Limited. 1998. ISBN 0-9512017-1-9.
  • Murray, Braham (2007). The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster. London: Methuen Drama. ISBN 978-0-7136-8490-2.

References

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  1. ^ News > Obituaries > Dilys Hamlett, The Scotsman, 13 November 2002.
  2. ^ Murray, Braham (13 November 2002). "Dilys Hamlett". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. ^ Murray, Braham (2007). The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster. London: Methuen Drama. ISBN 978-0-7136-8490-2.
  4. ^ The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976-1998, 1998, ISBN 0-9512017-1-9
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