Yvonne Gilan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(42 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|British actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox person<!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox actor/doc]] -->
{{Infobox person<!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox actor/doc]] -->
Line 5: Line 6:
| name = Yvonne Gilan
| name = Yvonne Gilan
| caption =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| other names =
| birth_name = Yvonne Janette Gilan
| birth_name = Yvonne Janette Gilan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1931|10|12}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|10|12|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| spouse = [[Michael Gill]] (m. 1951–1978)
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Michael Gill (producer)|Michael Gill]]|1951|1978|end = divorced}}
| children = Nicholas Gill<br/>
| children = Nicholas Gill<br/>[[A. A. Gill]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|6|14|1931|10|12|df=y}}
[[A. A. Gill]]
| death_date = 14 June 2018 (aged 86)
| death_place = London, England
| death_place = [[London]], England
| occupation = Actress, writer, [[vocal coach]]
| occupation = Actress, writer, [[vocal coach]]
| nationality = British
| nationality = British
| yearsactive = 1961–1994
| yearsactive = 1961–1994
| website = http://www.yvonnegilan.co.uk/
}}
}}


'''Yvonne Janette Gilan''' (12 October 1931 – 14 June 2018<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/aug/30/yvonne-gilan-obituary |title=Yvonne Gilan obituary |publisher=The Guardian |date=30 August 2018 |accessdate=30 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.resonancetraining.co.uk/conversation/yvonne-the-story-of-me-and-my-mentor/ | title=Yvonne: The story of me and my mentor – Resonance Training / Karen Glossop}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yvonne-gilan-obituary-rdkhz53lv | title=Yvonne Gilan obituary| newspaper=The Times| date=2018-09-05}}</ref>) was a British actress who is best known for her portrayal of [[List of guest characters in Fawlty Towers#Mrs. Peignoir|Mme. Peignoir]] in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''. And minor roles in Both [[Eastenders]] and [[French Feilds]]. She was married to the television director [[Michael Gill]], and is the mother of the late journalist, Adrian, known as [[A. A. Gill]].
'''Yvonne Janette Gilan''' (12 October 1931 – 14 June 2018)<ref name=Times>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yvonne-gilan-obituary-rdkhz53lv | title=Yvonne Gilan obituary| newspaper=The Times| date=5 September 2018}}</ref> was a Scottish actress who is best known for her portrayal of Mme. Peignoir in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (episode "[[The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers)|The Wedding Party]]") and minor roles in both ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[French Fields]]''. She was married to the television director [[Michael Gill (producer)|Michael Gill]], and was the mother of the late journalist, Adrian, known as [[A. A. Gill]].


==Early work==
==Early work==
In 1964 she wrote a short fantasy film, ''[[The Peaches]]'', starring [[Juliet Harmer]], with a small cameo role for her son Adrian as a bespectacled chess player. The film became the British choice for the [[Cannes Film Festival]], and won several international awards.
In 1964, Gilan wrote a short fantasy film, ''[[The Peaches]]'', starring [[Juliet Harmer]], with a small cameo role for her son Adrian as a bespectacled chess player. The film became the British choice for the [[Cannes Film Festival]], and won several international awards. Her comic skills were displayed earlier in [[Alan Bennett|Alan Bennett's]] comedy series ''[[On the Margin]]'' (1966).


Her comic skills were displayed earlier in [[Alan Bennett|Alan Bennett's]] comedy series ''[[On the Margin]]'' (1966). Gilan's acting career has also included roles in ''[[Z-Cars]]'' (1967) as Vera Cowley, ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1969), ''[[Crossroads (soap opera)|Crossroads]]'' (1976) as Eileen Blythe, a few episodes of ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1963–69) in several roles and ''[[The House of Elliot]]'' as Ruth Bannister. Her film credits include ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' (1979) as Mrs Braithwaite, ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' (1981) as Mrs Liddell, and ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'' (1987) as Mrs Lockwood.
Gilan's acting career on television also included roles as Vera Cowley in ''[[Z-Cars]]'' (1967), ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1969), ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' (1976) as Eileen Blythe, several roles in ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]'' (1963–69) and as Ruth Bannister ''[[The House of Eliott]]''. Her film credits included Mrs Braithwaite ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' (1979), Mrs Liddell in ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' (1981), and Mrs Lockwood in ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'' (1987).


===''Fawlty Towers'' (1975)===
===''Fawlty Towers'' (1975)===
Gilan's ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' appearance in "[[The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers)|The Wedding Party]]", first transmitted on BBC television on 3 October 1975, was as a French antiques dealer who seemed to have a soft spot for hotel owner [[Basil Fawlty]]. He, in turn, indulged her a little, while fending off her hints at a nocturnal encounter while she was under the influence of alcohol ("a little tipsy", as she put it). Her character had an unusual take on his character: "Are you a romantic, Mr. Fawlty..? Well, I think you are. I think beneath that English exterior throbs a passion that would make [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]] look like a tobacconist." After announcing that, due to the summer heat, she would sleep "''[[au naturel]]'' tonight", subsequently she teased Fawlty that he had left his [[cassette player]] in her room as an excuse to gain entry during the night.
Gilan's appearance in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' episode "[[The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers)|The Wedding Party]]", first transmitted on BBC2 on 3 October 1975, was as a French antiques dealer who seemed to have a soft spot for hotel owner [[Basil Fawlty]]. He, in turn, indulged her a little, while fending off her hints at a nocturnal encounter while she was under the influence of alcohol ('a little tipsy', as she put it). Her character had an unusual take on his character: 'Are you a romantic, Mr. Fawlty..? Well, I think you are. I think beneath that English exterior throbs a passion that would make [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]] look like a tobacconist.' After announcing that, due to the summer heat, she would sleep "''[[au naturel]]'' tonight", subsequently she teased Fawlty that he had left his [[cassette player]] in her room as an excuse to gain entry, during the night.


In May 2009 [[Gold (UK TV channel)|G.O.L.D.]] screened ''[[Fawlty Towers#Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened|Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened]]'', a show that brought the original ''Fawlty Towers'' cast back together for the first time since [[Torquay]]'s most notorious hotel closed. In the show, Gilan was interviewed and suggested that her French accent sounded more like a Hungarian accent to her now.
In May 2009, satellite channel [[Gold (UK TV channel)|G.O.L.D.]] screened ''[[Fawlty Towers#Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened|Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened]]'', a one-off special that brought the original ''Fawlty Towers'' cast back together for the first time since the most notorious hotel [[Torquay]] had closed down; within, Gilan was interviewed and suggested that her French accent now sounded to her more like a Hungarian accent.


==Later career==
==Later career==
Since 1980 she has worked as a [[motivational speaker]] at the [[Oxford Said Business School]], helping leaders improve their presentation and communication skills,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/ldc/workshops/trainers| title=Meet Our Trainers| accessdate=17 July 2011 }}</ref> and lectures at the [[Imperial College London|Imperial College]], London. She has been awarded [[Scholarship|Fellowships]] from both the [[London Business School]] and the [[Saïd Business School]].
From 1980 onwards, Gilan worked as a motivational speaker at the [[Oxford Said Business School]], helping leaders improve their presentation and communication skills,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/ldc/workshops/trainers| title=Meet Our Trainers| access-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> and lectured at the [[Imperial College London|Imperial College]], London. She was awarded [[Scholarship|Fellowships]] from both the [[London Business School]] and the [[Saïd Business School]].


In 2003 Gilan was consulted on picking the right voice for the [[118 118 (UK)|118 118]] directory enquiry service.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2788079.stm | title=The Welsh accent | publisher=BBC | accessdate=24 May 2009 | date=21 February 2003}}</ref>
In 2003, Gilan was consulted on picking the right voice for the [[118 118 (UK)|118 118]] directory enquiry service.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2788079.stm | title=The Welsh accent | publisher=BBC | access-date=24 May 2009 | date=21 February 2003}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
At the [[University of Edinburgh]] Gilan met [[Michael Gill]], later to have a career as a television director and producer; they married in 1951 and had two sons, Adrian and Nicholas. Their marriage was dissolved in 1978.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Paul|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-gill-512243.html|title=Michael Gill (obituary)|work=[[The Independent]]|date=24 October 2005|accessdate=23 May 2009}}</ref> Gilan's younger son Nicholas (Nick), a talented chef, unaccountably disappeared in 1998 and has not been heard from since. "He was an incredibly successful Michelin-starred chef, but he had reached rock bottom".<ref>{{cite news|last=Rumbelow|first=Helen|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article1922933.ece|title=Missing persons charity faces closure|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=14 March 2005|accessdate=20 November 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
At the [[University of Edinburgh]], Gilan met [[Michael Gill (producer)|Michael Gill]], later to have a career as a television director and producer; they married in 1951 and had two sons, Adrian and Nicholas. Their marriage was dissolved in 1978.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Paul|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-gill-512243.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211124047/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-gill-512243.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2011|title=Michael Gill (obituary)|work=[[The Independent]]|date=24 October 2005|access-date=23 May 2009}}</ref>
Gilan's younger son Nicholas (Nick), a talented chef, unaccountably disappeared in 1998 and has not been heard from since. 'He was an incredibly successful Michelin-starred chef, but he had reached rock bottom.'<ref>{{cite news|last=Rumbelow|first=Helen|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article1922933.ece|title=Missing persons charity faces closure|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=14 March 2005|access-date=20 November 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>


Her older son, Adrian, a newspaper columnist and writer, was known professionally as [[A. A. Gill]]. In his autobiography, Adrian described his mother's appearance and characteristics as he recalled them from childhood:
Her older son, Adrian, a newspaper columnist and writer, was known professionally as [[A. A. Gill]]. In his autobiography, Adrian described his mother's appearance and characteristics as he recalled them from childhood:


<blockquote>Physical, [[gamine]], a thick shock of [[bob cut|short black hair]] with a heavy fringe. Freckles, dark complexion. A witty, interested, boyish face, but provocative, mocking, with an exhibitionist smile that is not altogether humorous ... Her smile can wither or [[Electrostatic discharge|zap]] like [[Dan Dare]]'s [[ray gun]].<ref name="GillAuto">{{cite news|last=Gill|first=A.A.|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/article1619843.ece|title=Drunks’ dreams are never a pretty, relaxed place… I knew all about hallucination|work=The Sunday Times Magazine|date=25 October 2015|accessdate=20 November 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Physical, [[gamine]], a thick shock of [[bob cut|short black hair]] with a heavy fringe. Freckles, dark complexion. A witty, interested, boyish face, but provocative, mocking, with an exhibitionist smile that is not altogether humorous ... Her smile can wither or [[Electrostatic discharge|zap]] like [[Dan Dare]]'s [[ray gun]].<ref name="GillAuto">{{cite news|last=Gill|first=A.A.|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/article1619843.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026150913/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/article1619843.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2015|title=Drunks' dreams are never a pretty, relaxed place... I knew all about hallucination|work=The Sunday Times Magazine|date=25 October 2015|access-date=20 November 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref></blockquote>


Gilan kept the letters that Adrian wrote to her from his boarding school, [[St. Christopher School, Letchworth]], in [[Hertfordshire]], and returned them to him half a century later.<ref name="GillAuto"/> <ref>Adrian Gill had been sent to St. Christopher because his parents thought it might have been able to assist with his [[dyslexia]], but he left without any qualifications: ''Sunday Times'', 11 December 2016</ref> Adrian (A. A. Gill) died 10 December 2016 aged 62.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yvonne-gilan-obituary-rdkhz53lv | title=Yvonne Gilan obituary| newspaper=The Times| date=2018-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16735962.obituary-yvonne-gilan-scottish-actress-known-as-the-flirtatious-frenchwoman-in-fawlty-towers/ | title=Obituary - Yvonne Gilan, Scottish actress known as the flirtatious Frenchwoman in Fawlty Towers}}</ref>
Gilan kept the letters that Adrian wrote to her from his boarding school, [[St Christopher School]], [[Letchworth]], [[Hertfordshire]], and returned them to him half a century later.<ref name="GillAuto"/><ref>Adrian Gill had been sent to St. Christopher because his parents thought it might have been able to assist with his [[dyslexia]], but he left without any qualifications: ''Sunday Times'', 11 December 2016</ref> He died on 10 December 2016, at the age of 62.<ref name=Times/><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16735962.obituary-yvonne-gilan-scottish-actress-known-as-the-flirtatious-frenchwoman-in-fawlty-towers/ | title=Obituary – Yvonne Gilan, Scottish actress known as the flirtatious Frenchwoman in Fawlty Towers| date=9 September 2018}}</ref>

Gilan died of breast and lung cancer on 14 June 2018.<ref name = Times/><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.resonancetraining.co.uk/conversation/yvonne-the-story-of-me-and-my-mentor/|title = Yvonne: The Story of Me and My Mentor|website = Resonance Training|accessdate = 7 July 2022}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 54: Line 57:
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
|1979|| ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' || Mrs. Braithwaite ||
|1979|| ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' || Mrs Braithwaite ||
|-
|-
|1981|| ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' || Mrs. Liddell ||
|1981|| ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' || Mrs Liddell ||
|-
|-
|1983|| ''[[Another Time, Another Place (1983 film)|Another Time, Another Place]]'' || Jess ||
|1983|| ''[[Another Time, Another Place (1983 film)|Another Time, Another Place]]'' || Jess ||
|-
|-
|1987|| ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'' || Mrs. Lockwood ||
|1987|| ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'' || Mrs Lockwood ||
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Biography}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 71: Line 73:
* {{IMDb name|0317913}}
* {{IMDb name|0317913}}
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilan, Yvonne}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilan, Yvonne}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:English film actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
⚫
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:Academics of Imperial College London]]
[[Category:Academics of Imperial College London]]
⚫
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
⚫
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Deaths from breast cancer in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in England]]
⚫
[[Category:Scottish film actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:Scottish television actresses]]

Latest revision as of 05:46, 30 April 2024

Yvonne Gilan
Born
Yvonne Janette Gilan

(1931-10-12)12 October 1931
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died14 June 2018(2018-06-14) (aged 86)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actress, writer, vocal coach
Years active1961–1994
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1978)​
ChildrenNicholas Gill
A. A. Gill

Yvonne Janette Gilan (12 October 1931 – 14 June 2018)[1] was a Scottish actress who is best known for her portrayal of Mme. Peignoir in Fawlty Towers (episode "The Wedding Party") and minor roles in both EastEnders and French Fields. She was married to the television director Michael Gill, and was the mother of the late journalist, Adrian, known as A. A. Gill.

Early work[edit]

In 1964, Gilan wrote a short fantasy film, The Peaches, starring Juliet Harmer, with a small cameo role for her son Adrian as a bespectacled chess player. The film became the British choice for the Cannes Film Festival, and won several international awards. Her comic skills were displayed earlier in Alan Bennett's comedy series On the Margin (1966).

Gilan's acting career on television also included roles as Vera Cowley in Z-Cars (1967), Dixon of Dock Green (1969), Crossroads (1976) as Eileen Blythe, several roles in Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1963–69) and as Ruth Bannister The House of Eliott. Her film credits included Mrs Braithwaite Agatha (1979), Mrs Liddell in Chariots of Fire (1981), and Mrs Lockwood in Empire of the Sun (1987).

Fawlty Towers (1975)[edit]

Gilan's appearance in Fawlty Towers episode "The Wedding Party", first transmitted on BBC2 on 3 October 1975, was as a French antiques dealer who seemed to have a soft spot for hotel owner Basil Fawlty. He, in turn, indulged her a little, while fending off her hints at a nocturnal encounter while she was under the influence of alcohol ('a little tipsy', as she put it). Her character had an unusual take on his character: 'Are you a romantic, Mr. Fawlty..? Well, I think you are. I think beneath that English exterior throbs a passion that would make Lord Byron look like a tobacconist.' After announcing that, due to the summer heat, she would sleep "au naturel tonight", subsequently she teased Fawlty that he had left his cassette player in her room as an excuse to gain entry, during the night.

In May 2009, satellite channel G.O.L.D. screened Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened, a one-off special that brought the original Fawlty Towers cast back together for the first time since the most notorious hotel Torquay had closed down; within, Gilan was interviewed and suggested that her French accent now sounded to her more like a Hungarian accent.

Later career[edit]

From 1980 onwards, Gilan worked as a motivational speaker at the Oxford Said Business School, helping leaders improve their presentation and communication skills,[2] and lectured at the Imperial College, London. She was awarded Fellowships from both the London Business School and the Saïd Business School.

In 2003, Gilan was consulted on picking the right voice for the 118 118 directory enquiry service.[3]

Personal life[edit]

At the University of Edinburgh, Gilan met Michael Gill, later to have a career as a television director and producer; they married in 1951 and had two sons, Adrian and Nicholas. Their marriage was dissolved in 1978.[4]

Gilan's younger son Nicholas (Nick), a talented chef, unaccountably disappeared in 1998 and has not been heard from since. 'He was an incredibly successful Michelin-starred chef, but he had reached rock bottom.'[5]

Her older son, Adrian, a newspaper columnist and writer, was known professionally as A. A. Gill. In his autobiography, Adrian described his mother's appearance and characteristics as he recalled them from childhood:

Physical, gamine, a thick shock of short black hair with a heavy fringe. Freckles, dark complexion. A witty, interested, boyish face, but provocative, mocking, with an exhibitionist smile that is not altogether humorous ... Her smile can wither or zap like Dan Dare's ray gun.[6]

Gilan kept the letters that Adrian wrote to her from his boarding school, St Christopher School, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and returned them to him half a century later.[6][7] He died on 10 December 2016, at the age of 62.[1][8]

Gilan died of breast and lung cancer on 14 June 2018.[1][9]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Agatha Mrs Braithwaite
1981 Chariots of Fire Mrs Liddell
1983 Another Time, Another Place Jess
1987 Empire of the Sun Mrs Lockwood

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Yvonne Gilan obituary". The Times. 5 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Meet Our Trainers". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. ^ "The Welsh accent". BBC. 21 February 2003. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  4. ^ Levy, Paul (24 October 2005). "Michael Gill (obituary)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  5. ^ Rumbelow, Helen (14 March 2005). "Missing persons charity faces closure". The Times. London. Retrieved 20 November 2016. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b Gill, A.A. (25 October 2015). "Drunks' dreams are never a pretty, relaxed place... I knew all about hallucination". The Sunday Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2016. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Adrian Gill had been sent to St. Christopher because his parents thought it might have been able to assist with his dyslexia, but he left without any qualifications: Sunday Times, 11 December 2016
  8. ^ "Obituary – Yvonne Gilan, Scottish actress known as the flirtatious Frenchwoman in Fawlty Towers". 9 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Yvonne: The Story of Me and My Mentor". Resonance Training. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yvonne_Gilan&oldid=1221481584"