Sammie Winmill
Encyclopedia
Sammie Winmill is a British actress who had a number of roles in the 1970s, best known for portraying Carol
in the Sci-fi series The Tomorrow People
.
in the comedy Futtock's End
in 1970. Following small roles with Frankie Howerd
in Up Pompeii!
and Up the Chastity Belt
(1971) she secured a regular part in the sitcom Doctor in Charge
in 1972 playing Nurse Sandra Crumpton. This role ran for six episodes of the first series. Soon after she appeared in the all-star television pantomime
, The Pied Piper (1972).
In 1973 she was offered the role of Carol in a new children's science-fiction series, The Tomorrow People
. Winmill played the role throughout the thirteen episodes of the first series but declined to continue in the part, despite being offered a three-year contract. This was mainly due to her fear of being typecast and wanting to do more stage work, although the actress now believes that she quit the role too early.
Winmill went on to do much theatre work over the next few years before landing another regular television role in The Duchess of Duke Street
in 1976. She played the part of Ethel for eleven episodes until 1977. She also appeared in an episode of The Professionals
, but by the early 1980s she had decided to retire from the industry.
Over the next few years, Winmill became involved in other activities such as folk singing (she also plays guitar) and joined the Template Foundation
, due to her interest in the psychic mind. She also organises drama and dance workshops specifically for women with an emphasis on spiritual well-being. In the late 1990s she made a return to acting, appearing in a one-woman show which she wrote herself and starred in a number of Science-fiction audio drama CDs.
Carol (Tomorrow People)
Carol is a fictional character from the British television series The Tomorrow People. Her first appearance is in "The Slaves of Jedikiah", and last appears in The Vanishing Earth: Part 4. Carol is portrayed by Sammie Winmill.-Overview:...
in the Sci-fi series The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
.
Career
Her first noted television appearance was appearing alongside Ronnie BarkerRonnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
in the comedy Futtock's End
Futtock's End
Futtocks End is a British comedy film released in 1970, directed by Bob Kellett. Entirely silent, with a musical score, sound effects and incoherent mutterings, the story revolves around a weekend gathering at the decaying country home of the eccentric and lewd General Futtock and the series of...
in 1970. Following small roles with Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
in Up Pompeii!
Up Pompeii!
Up Pompeii! is a British television comedy series broadcast between 1969 and 1970, starring Frankie Howerd. The first series was written by Talbot Rothwell, a scriptwriter for the Carry On films, and the second series by Rothwell and Sid Colin. Two later specials were transmitted in 1975 and...
and Up the Chastity Belt
Up the Chastity Belt
Up the Chastity Belt is a 1971 British film, a spin-off from the TV series Up Pompeii! that starred Frankie Howerd and was directed by Bob Kellett.-Synopsis:...
(1971) she secured a regular part in the sitcom Doctor in Charge
Doctor in the House (TV series)
Doctor in the House is the syndicated title given, by the United States, to a British television comedy series , based on a set of books and a movie of the same name by Richard Gordon about the misadventures of a group of medical students — and their later misadventures as doctors.The first...
in 1972 playing Nurse Sandra Crumpton. This role ran for six episodes of the first series. Soon after she appeared in the all-star television pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, The Pied Piper (1972).
In 1973 she was offered the role of Carol in a new children's science-fiction series, The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
. Winmill played the role throughout the thirteen episodes of the first series but declined to continue in the part, despite being offered a three-year contract. This was mainly due to her fear of being typecast and wanting to do more stage work, although the actress now believes that she quit the role too early.
Winmill went on to do much theatre work over the next few years before landing another regular television role in The Duchess of Duke Street
The Duchess of Duke Street
The Duchess Of Duke Street is a BBC television drama series set in London between 1900 and 1935. It was created by John Hawkesworth, the former producer of the highly successful ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
in 1976. She played the part of Ethel for eleven episodes until 1977. She also appeared in an episode of The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
, but by the early 1980s she had decided to retire from the industry.
Over the next few years, Winmill became involved in other activities such as folk singing (she also plays guitar) and joined the Template Foundation
The Template Network
The Template Foundation, once known as the Emin Society or the Emin Foundation, is a belief system that stems from the work of Raymond Armin, known to members as Leo...
, due to her interest in the psychic mind. She also organises drama and dance workshops specifically for women with an emphasis on spiritual well-being. In the late 1990s she made a return to acting, appearing in a one-woman show which she wrote herself and starred in a number of Science-fiction audio drama CDs.