Elizabeth Counsell (born 7 June 1942) is an English actress and singer, known for starring in the BBC television series Brush Strokes, as well as for her work in classical theatre.

Career

She played Lady Macbeth to Michael Gambon's Macbeth at the Forum Theatre, Billingham in 1968, and was Michael Redgrave's leading lady in his anthology Shakespeare's People, 1976-77. In 1983 she took the nominal part in Peter Hall's Jean Seberg at the Royal National Theatre. Her film career includes roles in Hot Millions (1968), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), Doctor at Sea (1974), Under the Doctor (1976), Killer's Moon (1978), and Claudia (1985). She featured in the Channel 4 comedy drama Hollywood Hits Chiswick, alongside Derek Newark as W.C. Fields.^[1] Her most recent film appearances include the 2012 film Song for Marion with Vanessa Redgrave,^[2] and the 2014 film Grace of Monaco starring Nicole Kidman. She appeared in the second series of the BBC1 drama The Split (2020).

In December 2023, it was announced that Counsell had been cast as Gloria Knight in EastEnders.^[3]

Personal life

Elizabeth A Counsell is the daughter of actress Mary Kerridge and stage director John Counsell, who together ran the Theatre Royal, Windsor. Her twin sister was the actress Jenny (Jennifer M) Counsell. Jenny died on 23 May 2020. In the 1970s, Elizabeth married the actor David Simeon, and in 1979 gave birth to a son.^[4]

Filmography

Film

Television