Carolyn Seymour

Carolyn Seymour
Born
Carolyn von Benckendorf

(1947-10-01) 1 October 1947 (age 77)[citation needed][1]
Aylesbury,[citation needed] Buckinghamshire, England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • voice actress
  • theatre actress
Years active1969–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1973; div. 1984)​
Children2
External image
image icon Carolyn Seymour, 1972

Carolyn Seymour is an English actress, best known for portraying the role of Abby Grant in the BBC series Survivors (1975) and Queen Myrrah in the Gears of War franchise.

Career

[edit]

She was born Carolyn von Benckendorf in Buckinghamshire to an Estonian[2] father of Russian descent and an Irish mother. One of her early television roles was as Jenny in the BBC drama series Take Three Girls, and an early film appearance was as Zita in the film Steptoe and Son (1972) alongside Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell.[3][4] Her best-known movie role remains Grace Gurney in The Ruling Class (1972), opposite Peter O'Toole.[citation needed][5][6]

She left Survivors at the end of its first series due to disagreements with the producers over the direction the show and her character were taking.[7][8] She appeared in the Space: 1999 episode "The Seance Spectre", and with Joan Collins in The Bitch (1979).[9][10] She then moved to the United States and made numerous appearances on television shows, including Hart to Hart; Modesty Blaise; Family Ties; Cagney & Lacey; Remington Steele; Magnum, P.I.; The Twilight Zone; Murder, She Wrote; Matlock; Quantum Leap; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Civil Wars; L.A. Law; Red Shoe Diaries; Star Trek: Voyager; and ER.[11][12]

She has contributed voice work for several Star Wars video games, portraying characters such as Shmi Skywalker and Mon Mothma. She provides the voice for the Locust Queen Myrrah in Gears of War, Dr. Karin Chakwas in the Mass Effect series and the Elder God of Water in Mortal Kombat Annihilation. She has played in audio plays by L.A. Theatre Works and Hollywood Theater of the Ear as well as narrated audiobooks.[13][14][15]

In 2014, she reprised the role of Abby Grant in Big Finish Productions' Survivors series, based on the book by Terry Nation and the television series.[citation needed][16] She has played various roles for the company, and in April 2021, it released a career retrospective interview with her titled Carolyn Seymour in Conversation.[17]

Since 2014, she has voiced Bierce in Dark Deception.[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Seymour married director Peter Medak in 1973.[19] The couple had two children and divorced in 1984.[20]

Since 2011, she has lived in Chalais, France.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1971 Unman, Wittering and Zigo Silvia Ebony
Gumshoe Alison
1972 Steptoe and Son Zita Steptoe
The Ruling Class Grace Shelley
1973 Yellow Dog Della
1977 The Assignment Danica Rodriguez
1978 The Odd Job Angie
1979 The Bitch Polly Logan
1980 Bad Timing Lisa Dietrich
1981 Zorro, The Gay Blade Dolores
1983 Mr. Mom Eve
1990 Midnight Cabaret Orion
1995 Congo Eleanor Romy
1997 Mortal Kombat Annihilation Elder God #2
2001 Ablaze Vivian Sims
2003 I Witness Lady Anne
2007 Hard Four Maxine De Winter
2008 Dark Streets Gloria
The Moon and He Leila Short
2010 The Favour of Your Company Pamela Wilde Short

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1971 Take Three Girls Jenny Main role
1971–1973 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Connie Bell, Vicky 2 episodes
1972 ITV Playhouse Angela Harrison Episode: "The Greeks and Their Gifts"
1974 Justice Joy Mostyn Episode: "Matrimonial Malice"
1975 The Prodigal Daughter Christine Smith TV film
Edward the Seventh "Daisy," Lady Brooke/Lady Warwick Episodes 9, "Scandal," and 10, "The Years of Waiting"
Survivors Abby Grant Main role (series 1)
1977 Space: 1999 Eva Episode: "The Séance Spectre"
1978 Return of the Saint Lady Greer Stevens Episode: "The Arrangement"
1979 Hazell Caroline Bancroft Episode: "Hazell Gets the Bird"
1981 Mistress of Paradise Adele TV film
1982 Hart to Hart Celeste Dumont Episode: "Vintage Harts"
The Devlin Connection Elspeth Episode: "Love, Sin and Death at Point Dume"
Modesty Blaise Debbie DeFarge TV film
1983 The Greatest American Hero Kris Peterson Episode: "Heaven Is in Your Genes"
The Last Ninja Lydia TV film
Family Ties Lorraine Ferrar Episode: "Sweet Lorraine"
Girls of the White Orchid Madame Mori TV film; alternative title Death Ride to Osaka
1983–1984 Cagney & Lacey Renata Myers, Marie-Chantal 2 episodes
1984 Remington Steele Shelby Haines Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Steel"
Blue Thunder Helen Episode: "The Island"
1984–1985 Magnum, P.I. Elizabeth, Lady Ashley, Leeann 2 episodes
1985 Otherworld Prime Manager Episode: "Princess Metra"
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Carla Dean Episode: "Wake Me When I'm Dead"
The Twilight Zone Megaera Episode: "Ye Gods"
1985–1986 Tales from the Darkside Aisha Candisha, Andrea Caldwell 2 episodes
1986–1989 Matlock Christina Harrison Ward, Vanessa Sedgwick, Iris Vogel 3 episodes
1986 Adam's Apple D.A. Trisha Hammond TV film
1987 Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story Dorothy Difrasso TV film
1987–1995 Murder, She Wrote Pauline Constable, Alice Montrose, Nellie Ruddy 3 episodes
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Celia Episode: "Old Money"
1989 Living Dolls Mrs. Tate Episode: "Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner"
1989–1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation Subcommander Taris, Mirasta Yale, Commander Toreth 3 episodes: "Contagion", "First Contact", "Face of the Enemy"
Quantum Leap Priscilla Stoltz, Zoey 4 episodes
1990 Blue Bayou Raleigh McMain TV film
Father Dowling Mysteries Nurse Eunice Episode: "The Medical Mystery"
1991 The Flash Jocelyn Weller Episode: "Done with Mirrors"
Over My Dead Body Diane Beckett Episode: "An Actor Prepares"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Mirasta Yale Episode: "First Contact"
1992 Civil Wars Bettina Peck-Naughton Episode: "Tape Fear"
Dark Justice Michelle Episode: "Needy Things"
1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Moira Voice, episode: "The Princess Aleta"
Jack's Place Maggie Episode: "Forever and Ever"
Class of '96 Anna Horvath Episode: "Parents Weekend"
1994 L.A. Law Vivian Askoff 2 episodes
Rebel Highway Mrs. Evelyn Turnbull Episode: "Reform School Girl"
1995 Silk Stalkings Sarah Rowan Episode: "Friendly Persuasion"
Star Trek: Voyager Mrs. Templeton 2 episodes
1996 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Sarah Voice, episode: "The Spectre of the Pine Barrens"
1997 Babylon 5 Sen. Crosby Episode: "Endgame"
1998 Superman: The Animated Series Kala In-Ze Voice, episode: "Little Girl Lost"
2001 ER Dr. Skoft Episode: "The Longer You Stay"
2002 Still Standing Beverly Gerber Episode: "Still Scalping"
2004 Judging Amy Atty. Marla Rosen Episode: "My Little Runaway"
2005 Malcolm in the Middle Nina Episode: "Mrs. Tri-County"
2007 The Replacements Agent B Voice, episode: "London Calling"

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Concerned Mother, Shmi Skywalker, TC-14 [21]
Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned Estelle Stiles [21]
Revenant Heather, Townswomen [21]
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine Babylonian Holy Woman [21]
Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure Book Shmi Skywalker, Jellyfish [21]
2000 Star Wars: Force Commander AT-AT Barge Pilot, ATC-Frigate, Heavy Lifter Pilot
2001 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Empire Destroyer Captain, Gungan Medic, Starbomer Pilot
2002 Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Mon Mothma [21]
Summoner 2 Dama Sivora
2003 Armed and Dangerous Peasant Woman 1
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Administrator Terena Adare, Iziz Citizen, Republic Captain
2004 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Admiral Forn Dodonna, Helena Shan, Elora
2005 Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Emily Brent, Ethel Rogers [21]
2006 Star Wars: Empire at War Mon Mothma [21]
Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express Princess Dragomiroff [21]
Gears of War Queen Myrrah
2007 Mass Effect Dr. Karin Chakwas
2008 Gears of War 2 Queen Myrrah [21]
2009 Dragon Age: Origins Keeper Marethari, Sister Theohild, Grand Cleric Elemena, Sister Augustine, Edwina, Agatha, Redcliffe Old Woman, Circle Tower Mage
2010 Mass Effect 2 Dr. Karin Chakwas
2011 Gears of War 3 Queen Myrrah [21]
2012 Mass Effect 3 Dr. Karin Chakwas, Teresa
2013 Gears of War: Judgment Queen Myrrah
2018 Dark Deception Helen Bierce
2019 Gears 5 Queen Myrrah [21]
2020 Dark Deception: Monsters and Mortals Helen Bierce

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Carolyn Seymour". IMDb.
  2. ^ Seymour, Carolyn (April 2021). "Carolyn Seymour in conversation" (Interview). Interviewed by Toby Hadoke. Big Finish Productions.
  3. ^ "Take Three Girls: The Company of Madmen". 21 April 1971. p. 39 – via BBC Genome.
  4. ^ "Carolyn Seymour". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
  5. ^ "The Ruling Class (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.
  6. ^ Elley, Derek (2 November 2001). "The Ruling Class".
  7. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Survivors (1975-77)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  8. ^ "Big Finish - Survivors - Cast - Series one - Carolyn Seymour - Abby Grant - Survivors: A World Away". www.survivors-mad-dog.org.uk.
  9. ^ "Space: 1999 | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  10. ^ "The Bitch (1979)". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Carolyn Seymour | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  12. ^ "Carolyn Seymour". aveleyman.com.
  13. ^ "Audio Drama: The L.A. Theatre Works Collection". Alexander Street.
  14. ^ "Jo Hole Associates (JHA)". www.joholeassociates.com.
  15. ^ "WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Brontë Read by Carolyn Seymour | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine.
  16. ^ "Survivors 5 - A Critics' Cracker! - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com.
  17. ^ "Seymour the Survivor! - News - Big Finish".
  18. ^ "Dark Deception Dev Talks Pac-Man Inspirations, Release Date & More". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  19. ^ Medak, Peter (30 October 2001). The Ruling Class (DVD commentary). Criterion Collection.
  20. ^ Peter Medak profile, FilmReference.com; accessed 3 March 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Carolyn Seymour – 25 Character Images | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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