Juliet Harmer
Encyclopedia
Juliet Harmer is an English
actress who was best known in the role of Georgina Jones
in the BBC
TV series Adam Adamant Lives!
(1966-7).
and Marriage Lines
. She played Jill Manson, the nominal headmistress of a deserted school in the village of Little Bazeley-on-Sea in the opening episode of the fourth series of The Avengers
(ABC, 1965) in which Diana Rigg
appeared for the first time as Emma Peel
. Towards the end of the episode the two women engaged in a memorable fight.
's short film, The Peaches, written by his wife, Yvonne Gilan
(probably best known as Mme. Peignoir in a 1975 episode of Fawlty Towers
), which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival
in 1964. This fantasy about a beautiful young woman's sensual passion for peaches was narrated by Peter Ustinov
and included a minor role for Gill's son, Adrian, subsequently the journalist and critic A. A. Gill
.
), who played the part in an untransmitted pilot in April 1966. However, Holloway’s performance was deemed "not to fit the series" and Harmer was cast at short notice from some 300 applicants. She did not even have a screen test and admitted over twenty years later that she had answered affirmatively when asked if she could ride a motor scooter, whereas, in fact, she could not.
, who had been frozen in time in 1902. His return to life in "Swinging London
" was the signal for a succession of new adventures, in which Georgina, whom Adamant habitually referred to as "Miss Jones" and failed initially to comprehend, was usually in tow. As Harper put it in 2006, "if you have Adam Adamant from 1902 presented to Georgina who is wearing a mini-skirt which to him is appalling, you immediately have a confrontation and it’s amusing".
In an interview with Russell Twisk for the Radio Times
in August 1966, Harmer was described as "the Girl from Adam Adamant" (rather as Stefanie Powers
was, later that year, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
) The article emphasised that Harmer sometimes used clothes from her own wardrobe for the part of Georgina Jones, thus pitching her as a trend setter in her own right. Harmer reflected in 2006 that most of her fan mail
had been from 14 or 15 year old boys.
, acquired something of cult following that lasted for many years, it did not achieve the heights, in terms of ratings, overseas sales or critical success, for which the BBC had hoped. Lambert regarded it in retrospect as a failure, while reflecting that it had possessed essentially all the same ingredients as the highly successful Avengers. A third series was considered, but never commissioned.
Harper recalled Harmer as "a kooky, curious girl, but utterly beautiful and very nice". The two met again at Pinewood Studios
forty years later as part of a documentary film to accompany the release on DVD
of the 17 surviving episodes of Adam Adamant.
(1916–89) in 1967. It was his second marriage and they later divorced.
After Adam Adamant, Harmer appeared in episodes of a number of other television series, including Department S
(1969–70), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
(1970), The Persuaders!
(1971) (as a briefly recurring character named Prue) , Bless This House (1971) and Jason King
(1972), a "spin off" of Department S. Films included Quest for Love (1971), a science-fiction romance based on a story by John Wyndham
; Carry on Matron
(1972), in which she had a walk-on part; and Paris by Night (1988). In 1969 Harmer appeared as Stevie in Slim John
, an English language instructional serial made by the BBC for overseas broadcast.
Harmer published several books, including children's stories and an illuminated manuscript celebrating the healing properties of herbs and flowers.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress who was best known in the role of Georgina Jones
Georgina Jones
Miss Georgina Jones was a fictional modish young woman living in the Soho area of London in the mid 1960s. Played by Juliet Harmer , she was the main supporting character in the BBC television adventure series, Adam Adamant Lives! which starred Gerald Harper as Adam Adamant.-Genesis of the...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV series Adam Adamant Lives!
Adam Adamant Lives!
Adam Adamant Lives! is a British television series which ran from 1966 to 1967 on the BBC. Proposing that an adventurer born in 1867 had been revived from hibernation in 1966, the show was a comedy adventure that took a satirical look at life in the 1960s through the eyes of an Edwardian .- Character...
(1966-7).
Early career
Juliet Harmer was a primary school teacher and artist who began acting on television in the mid 1960s, appearing in such series as Emergency - Ward 10, Danger ManDanger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
and Marriage Lines
Marriage Lines
Marriage Lines was a popular black-and-white British sitcom that aired from 1961 to 1966 which launched the careers of its lead stars, Richard Briers and Prunella Scales. It was originally entitled The Marriage Lines...
. She played Jill Manson, the nominal headmistress of a deserted school in the village of Little Bazeley-on-Sea in the opening episode of the fourth series of The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
(ABC, 1965) in which Diana Rigg
Diana Rigg
Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg, DBE is an English actress. She is probably best known for her portrayals of Emma Peel in The Avengers and Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service....
appeared for the first time as Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
. Towards the end of the episode the two women engaged in a memorable fight.
The Peaches
In 1963 Harmer starred in Michael GillMichael Gill
George Michael Gill was a television producer and television director responsible for creating 'ground-breaking' documentaries for the BBC....
's short film, The Peaches, written by his wife, Yvonne Gilan
Yvonne Gilan
Yvonne Gilan is an English actress who is best remembered for her portrayal of Mrs. Peignoir in Fawlty Towers.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...
(probably best known as Mme. Peignoir in a 1975 episode of Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
), which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in 1964. This fantasy about a beautiful young woman's sensual passion for peaches was narrated by Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov
Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
and included a minor role for Gill's son, Adrian, subsequently the journalist and critic A. A. Gill
A. A. Gill
Adrian Anthony Gill is a British writer who uses the byline A. A. Gill. He is currently employed by The Sunday Times as their restaurant reviewer and television critic and Vanity Fair magazine as a restaurant reviewer...
.
Adam Adamant Lives!
The original choice for the role of Georgina Jones in Adam Adamant had been Ann Holloway (later known as Karen Glover in the comedy series Father, Dear FatherFather, Dear Father
Father, Dear Father is a British television sitcom produced by Thames Television for ITV from 1968 to 1973 starring Patrick Cargill. It was subsequently made into a spin-off film of the same title released in 1973....
), who played the part in an untransmitted pilot in April 1966. However, Holloway’s performance was deemed "not to fit the series" and Harmer was cast at short notice from some 300 applicants. She did not even have a screen test and admitted over twenty years later that she had answered affirmatively when asked if she could ride a motor scooter, whereas, in fact, she could not.
Georgina Jones
Georgina Jones was a trendy Mod who dressed in the fashionable styles of the mid 1960s. She befriended Adam Adamant, an Edwardian adventurer, played by Gerald HarperGerald Harper
Gerald Harper is an actor, best known for his work on television, having played the title roles in Adam Adamant Lives! and Hadleigh ....
, who had been frozen in time in 1902. His return to life in "Swinging London
Swinging London
Swinging London is a catch-all term applied to the fashion and cultural scene that flourished in London, in the 1960s.It was a youth-oriented phenomenon that emphasised the new and modern. It was a period of optimism and hedonism, and a cultural revolution. One catalyst was the recovery of the...
" was the signal for a succession of new adventures, in which Georgina, whom Adamant habitually referred to as "Miss Jones" and failed initially to comprehend, was usually in tow. As Harper put it in 2006, "if you have Adam Adamant from 1902 presented to Georgina who is wearing a mini-skirt which to him is appalling, you immediately have a confrontation and it’s amusing".
In an interview with Russell Twisk for the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
in August 1966, Harmer was described as "the Girl from Adam Adamant" (rather as Stefanie Powers
Stefanie Powers
Stefanie Powers is an American actress best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in the 1980s television series Hart to Hart.-Early life:...
was, later that year, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. is an American spy-fi TV series that aired on NBC for one season from September 16, 1966 to April 11, 1967. The series was a spin-off from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and used the same theme music composed by Jerry Goldsmith, which was rearranged into a slightly different,...
) The article emphasised that Harmer sometimes used clothes from her own wardrobe for the part of Georgina Jones, thus pitching her as a trend setter in her own right. Harmer reflected in 2006 that most of her fan mail
Fan mail
Fan mail is mail sent to a public figure, especially a celebrity, by their admirers or "fans".In return celebrities may send a poster or picture and usually a return letter.-Overview:...
had been from 14 or 15 year old boys.
Adam Adamant in retrospect
There were 29 episodes of Adam Adamant, spread over two series (1966-7), but, although the show, produced by Verity LambertVerity Lambert
Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
, acquired something of cult following that lasted for many years, it did not achieve the heights, in terms of ratings, overseas sales or critical success, for which the BBC had hoped. Lambert regarded it in retrospect as a failure, while reflecting that it had possessed essentially all the same ingredients as the highly successful Avengers. A third series was considered, but never commissioned.
Harper recalled Harmer as "a kooky, curious girl, but utterly beautiful and very nice". The two met again at Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
forty years later as part of a documentary film to accompany the release on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of the 17 surviving episodes of Adam Adamant.
Other work
Harmer married actor William SquireWilliam Squire
William Squire was a Welsh actor of stage, film and television, born in Neath, South Wales.As a stage actor, Squire performed at Stratford-upon-Avon and at the Old Vic, and notably replaced his fellow-countryman Richard Burton as King Arthur in Camelot at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway.His...
(1916–89) in 1967. It was his second marriage and they later divorced.
After Adam Adamant, Harmer appeared in episodes of a number of other television series, including Department S
Department S
Department S is a United Kingdom spy-fi adventure series produced by ITC Entertainment. The series consists of 28 episodes which originally aired in 1969–1970. It starred Peter Wyngarde as author Jason King , Joel Fabiani as Stewart Sullivan, and Rosemary Nicols as computer expert Annabelle Hurst...
(1969–70), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk , first transmitted during 1969-70, is a British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk, respectively. The series was originally created by Dennis Spooner and produced by Monty Berman...
(1970), The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders! is a 1971 action/adventure series, produced by ITC Entertainment for initial broadcast on ITV and ABC. It has been called "the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that had begun eleven years earlier with Danger Man in 1960", as well as "the most ambitious and most...
(1971) (as a briefly recurring character named Prue) , Bless This House (1971) and Jason King
Jason King (TV series)
Jason King was a British television series produced from 1971 to 1972. Each episode was one hour in duration , and the series had a run of one season of 26 episodes. As well as its native UK, the series was also screened in countries as far afield as Australia, Norway, Argentina and Peru...
(1972), a "spin off" of Department S. Films included Quest for Love (1971), a science-fiction romance based on a story by John Wyndham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
; Carry on Matron
Carry On Matron
Carry On Matron is the twenty-third Carry On film. It was released in 1972. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor. This was the last Carry on... film for Terry Scott after appearing...
(1972), in which she had a walk-on part; and Paris by Night (1988). In 1969 Harmer appeared as Stevie in Slim John
Slim John
Slim John was a 1969 BBC English Language Instruction serial made for overseas broadcast. The program was a series of scifi adventure of twenty-six episodes in black and white. It involved android robots from outer space planning to take over the Earth, starting with London. They worked following...
, an English language instructional serial made by the BBC for overseas broadcast.
Harmer published several books, including children's stories and an illuminated manuscript celebrating the healing properties of herbs and flowers.
Selected filmography
- Just Like a WomanJust Like a Woman (1967 film)Just Like a Woman is a 1967 British comedy film written and directed by Robert Fuest and starring Wendy Craig, Francis Matthews, Dennis Price and Clive Dunn...
(1967) - Quest for Love (1971)
- Home Before MidnightHome Before MidnightHome Before Midnight is a 1978 British drama film directed by Pete Walker and starring James Aubrey, Alison Elliott and Richard Todd. A songwriter is put on trial for having sex with an underage girl.-Cast:* James Aubrey - Mike Beresford...
(1978) - Paris by NightParis by Night (film)Paris by Night is a 1988 British thriller film written and directed by David Hare and starring Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon and Iain Glen. A British politician spends some time in Paris, but gets caught up in a murder....
(1988)
External links
| Adam Adamant Lives |
|---|
| Juliet Harmer — Gerald Harper Gerald Harper Gerald Harper is an actor, best known for his work on television, having played the title roles in Adam Adamant Lives! and Hadleigh .... — Jack May Jack May Jack May was an English actor. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and after war service with the Royal Indian Navy in India was offered a place at RADA, but he instead went to Merton College, Oxford... Character: Georgina Jones Georgina Jones Miss Georgina Jones was a fictional modish young woman living in the Soho area of London in the mid 1960s. Played by Juliet Harmer , she was the main supporting character in the BBC television adventure series, Adam Adamant Lives! which starred Gerald Harper as Adam Adamant.-Genesis of the... Creator: Sydney Newman Sydney Newman Sydney Cecil Newman, OC was a Canadian film and television producer, who played a pioneering role in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s... — Producer: Verity Lambert Verity Lambert Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television... |