Julia Hills
Encyclopedia
Julia Hills is a British
actress, known for being a member of the cast of the Channel 4
late-night comedy sketch show Who Dares Wins in the 1980s. She also played the character of Rona, the man-hungry neighbour, in eight series of the BBC hit sitcom 2point4 children
. Her new website can be found at www.juliahills.co.uk
and is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
where she played many leading roles including Sally Forth in the premiere of Peter Nichols
' musical Poppy. Perdita in The Winters Tale and Diana in Alls Well That Ends Well directed by Trevor Nunn
. She also played Edwin Drood in the New York Shakespeare Theatre production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood
at the Savoy Theatre
in 1987 playing opposite Lulu
and Ernie Wise
.
and Melvyn Bragg
's The Hired Man.
Other theatre credits include Eve in Flying Under Bridges by Sandi Toksvig
adapted by Sarah Daniels
(Watford Palace Theatre) Betty in Larkin with Women (Coventry Belgrade) Vera in Stepping Out (New Vic Theatre Stoke), The Hired Man (Leicester Haymarket and West End), A Midsummer Nights Dream (RSC Stratford and Barbican) Rusty in Our Friends in the North by Peter Flannery
(RSC Newcastle and Barbican), The Witch of Edmonton (RSC Stratford), Beside Herself by Sarah Daniels (Royal Court), We The Undersigned, Dealing With Clair by Martin Crimp
(Orange Tree Richmond), Toine in Piaf, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, The Tempest, Sylvia Raven in The Philanderer, Beside The Sea, Susannah in Bedroom Farce, A Mad World my Masters, Dorcas Frey in Plenty (Bristol Old Vic), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Bristol Old Vic and London Old Vic), Mr Puntila and his Man Matti, Does This Train Stop at Southend? (Stratford East), Bunty Mainwaring in The Vortex, Shore Saints and Sea Devils (Library Theatre Manchester), Fertility Dance (Nuffield Southampton), Jack and the Beanstalk (York Theatre Royal) and two national tours of Who Dares Wins – Sex and Drugs and Sausage Roll. From February 2009 she took part in a nationwide tour of Calendar Girls before it moved to the Noel Coward Theatre from April 3, 2009.
She recently appeared as Mrs Eynsford-Hill in Pygmalion at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre. She rejoined the tour of Calendar Girls last July to play the role of Annie. She has just played Amy Ruskin in 'Special Occasions' at The Mill Theatre Sonning playing opposite her husband Paul Clarkson and is currently to be seen in The Borrowers
at The Nuffield Theatre Southampton until January 2012. She will then be moving to The Tobacco Factory Bristol to play Goneril in King Lear and Madame Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard both directed by Andrew Hilton
in which she played Rona for the shows 8 series run on BBC1 (1991–1999). She also starred as all of the women and even some of the male characters in Channel 4 comedy series Who Dares Wins
(1984-8). More recently she has appeared as Caroline Joyner in hospital drama Casualty
(2004-5). She had previously appeared in the series in 1993 as Carol Simpson for one episode.
She also made an appearance in Ladies in Charge for 6 episodes in 1986 and shared a leading role with Kevin McNally
in BBC sitcom Dad
as Beryl Hook for 13 episodes (1997–1999) over 2 series. Dad
was written by Andrew Marshall
who also created 2point4 children
.
Other appearances
She has also appeared as herself on The Alan Titchmarsh Show
in 2009 and The Good Sex Guide in 1993.
as well as numerous other radio plays.
who played John Tallentire in The Hired Man. They have been married for 26 years and have three children.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress, known for being a member of the cast of the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
late-night comedy sketch show Who Dares Wins in the 1980s. She also played the character of Rona, the man-hungry neighbour, in eight series of the BBC hit sitcom 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
. Her new website can be found at www.juliahills.co.uk
Early life and career
Hills was born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
where she played many leading roles including Sally Forth in the premiere of Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols FRSL is an English writer of stage plays, film and television.Born in Bristol, England, he was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and served his compulsory National Service as a clerk in Calcutta and later in the Combined Services Entertainments Unit in Singapore where he...
' musical Poppy. Perdita in The Winters Tale and Diana in Alls Well That Ends Well directed by Trevor Nunn
Trevor Nunn
Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera...
. She also played Edwin Drood in the New York Shakespeare Theatre production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and his intended ending for it remains unknown. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, the story focuses on Drood's uncle, choirmaster John Jasper, who...
at the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
in 1987 playing opposite Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
and Ernie Wise
Ernie Wise
Ernest Wiseman OBE , known by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who became an institution on British television, especially for their Christmas specials.-Career:Ernest Wiseman was the eldest of five children, and changed...
.
Theatre work
She was nominated for an Olivier Award (Actress of the Year in a Musical) in 1984 for her performance as Emily Tallentire in Howard GoodallHoward Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
and Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg FRSL FRTS FBA, FRS FRSA is an English broadcaster and author best known for his work with the BBC and for presenting the The South Bank Show...
's The Hired Man.
Other theatre credits include Eve in Flying Under Bridges by Sandi Toksvig
Sandi Toksvig
Sandra Brigitte “Sandi” Toksvig is a Danish comedian, author and presenter on British radio and television.-Career:...
adapted by Sarah Daniels
Sarah Daniels
Sarah Daniels is a British dramatist. She has been a prolific writer since her first performed play was given a production at the Royal Court in 1981. Her plays have appeared at other venues including the National Theatre, the Battersea Arts Centre, the Crucible, Sheffield and Chicken Shed...
(Watford Palace Theatre) Betty in Larkin with Women (Coventry Belgrade) Vera in Stepping Out (New Vic Theatre Stoke), The Hired Man (Leicester Haymarket and West End), A Midsummer Nights Dream (RSC Stratford and Barbican) Rusty in Our Friends in the North by Peter Flannery
Peter Flannery
Peter Flannery is a British playwright and screenwriter. He was educated at Bath Spa University and is best known for his work while a resident playwright at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
(RSC Newcastle and Barbican), The Witch of Edmonton (RSC Stratford), Beside Herself by Sarah Daniels (Royal Court), We The Undersigned, Dealing With Clair by Martin Crimp
Martin Crimp
Martin Andrew Crimp is a British playwright.Sometimes described as a practitioner of the "in-yer-face" school of contemporary British drama, Crimp though rejects the label...
(Orange Tree Richmond), Toine in Piaf, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, The Tempest, Sylvia Raven in The Philanderer, Beside The Sea, Susannah in Bedroom Farce, A Mad World my Masters, Dorcas Frey in Plenty (Bristol Old Vic), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Bristol Old Vic and London Old Vic), Mr Puntila and his Man Matti, Does This Train Stop at Southend? (Stratford East), Bunty Mainwaring in The Vortex, Shore Saints and Sea Devils (Library Theatre Manchester), Fertility Dance (Nuffield Southampton), Jack and the Beanstalk (York Theatre Royal) and two national tours of Who Dares Wins – Sex and Drugs and Sausage Roll. From February 2009 she took part in a nationwide tour of Calendar Girls before it moved to the Noel Coward Theatre from April 3, 2009.
She recently appeared as Mrs Eynsford-Hill in Pygmalion at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre. She rejoined the tour of Calendar Girls last July to play the role of Annie. She has just played Amy Ruskin in 'Special Occasions' at The Mill Theatre Sonning playing opposite her husband Paul Clarkson and is currently to be seen in The Borrowers
The Borrowers
The Borrowers, published in 1952, is the first in a series of children's fantasy novels by English author Mary Norton. The novel and its sequels are about tiny people who live in people's homes and "borrow" things to survive while keeping their existence unknown...
at The Nuffield Theatre Southampton until January 2012. She will then be moving to The Tobacco Factory Bristol to play Goneril in King Lear and Madame Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard both directed by Andrew Hilton
Television work
Hills has appeared in many TV shows most notably in 2point4 children2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
in which she played Rona for the shows 8 series run on BBC1 (1991–1999). She also starred as all of the women and even some of the male characters in Channel 4 comedy series Who Dares Wins
Who Dares Wins
Who Dares, Wins, Latin: "Qui audet adipiscitur" is a motto that originated with the British Special Air Service. It is normally credited to the founder of the SAS, David Stirling. The motto has been used by nine elite special forces units around the world that in some way have historical ties to...
(1984-8). More recently she has appeared as Caroline Joyner in hospital drama Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(2004-5). She had previously appeared in the series in 1993 as Carol Simpson for one episode.
She also made an appearance in Ladies in Charge for 6 episodes in 1986 and shared a leading role with Kevin McNally
Kevin McNally
Kevin McNally is an English actor who has worked in theatre and radio extensively as well as in film and television.-Life and career:...
in BBC sitcom Dad
Dad (TV series)
Dad is a BBC1 sitcom that ran for 13 episodes over two series and a Christmas special. Described by the BBC as a 'generation-gap comedy', it starred George Cole as Brian Hook, Kevin McNally as his son Alan Hook, and Toby Ross-Bryant as his son Vincent Hook and Julia Hills as his wife Beryl Hook...
as Beryl Hook for 13 episodes (1997–1999) over 2 series. Dad
Dad (TV series)
Dad is a BBC1 sitcom that ran for 13 episodes over two series and a Christmas special. Described by the BBC as a 'generation-gap comedy', it starred George Cole as Brian Hook, Kevin McNally as his son Alan Hook, and Toby Ross-Bryant as his son Vincent Hook and Julia Hills as his wife Beryl Hook...
was written by Andrew Marshall
Andrew Marshall
Andrew Marshall may refer to:*Andrew Marshall , American founder of the Office of Net Assessment*Andrew Marshall , English comedy scriptwriter...
who also created 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
.
Other appearances
- Outnumbered (2010)
- Doctors (2010)
- All in the Game (2006)
- Casualty (1993, 2004-5)
- Wipe Out (2004)
- Murder in Suburbia (2004)
- Star (2003)
- Trevor's World of Sport (2003)
- Murphy's Law (2003)
- Doctors (2002)
- Peak Practice (2000)
- Dad (1997–1999)
- 2point4 Children (1991–1999)
- Haggard (1992)
- The Upper Hand (1991)
- Boon (1990)
- The Bretts (1988)
- The Refuge (1987)
- Ladies in Charge (1986)
- The Lenny Henry Show (1985)
- Storyboard (1985)
- Who Dares Wins (1984–1988)
- Goodbye Days (1984)
- The Lost Tribe (1980)
She has also appeared as herself on The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show is a British daytime TV chat show broadcast between 3 and 4pm weekdays on the ITV Network.-Format:The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot...
in 2009 and The Good Sex Guide in 1993.
Radio
Julia is also well known for playing Annabelle Shrivener in The ArchersThe Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
as well as numerous other radio plays.
- Falco
- Revolting People
- Julie and the Prince
- Earth Song
- It Started With a Click
- Dealing With Clair
- The Culper Tapes
- Saturday Night Fry
- The Rainbow Bridge
- Gilbert Without Sullivan
- The Lost Child
- The Walsall Boys
- Book at Bedtime
- Our Man in Havana
- Life Death and Sex with Sue and Mike
- The Long Hot SatsumaThe Long Hot SatsumaThe Long Hot Satsuma is a radio comedy sketch show from 1989 featuring Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Alison Steadman, Paul B. Davies and Julia Hills...
Personal life
She is married to actor and director Paul ClarksonPaul Clarkson
Paul Clarkson is an English actor, theatre director and teacher. He was born and educated in Worcester.He won the 1984 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Howard Goodall's The Hired Man and starred in the European premiere of A Man of No Importance at The Union...
who played John Tallentire in The Hired Man. They have been married for 26 years and have three children.