Iola Gregory

Eirian Iola Gregory (15 September 1946 – 21 November 2017) was a Welsh actress. She was best known for her role as Jean McGurk in the long-running S4C soap series Pobol y Cwm.

Early life Gregory's mother, Millicent "Millie" Gregory, was a Welsh language campaigner for the Welsh Language Society who died of a heart attack. Her father, Oliver Gregory, was manager of National Westminster Bank in Aberystwyth.

Career Gregory started acting professionally in the 1970s. In 1977, she co-founded Theatr Bara Caws, a community theatre in Caernarfon. She was later cast in the S4C programmes Rownd a Rownd and Porthpenwaig.

Gregory also had roles in the Welsh-language films Coming Up Roses (1986), Dal: Yma/Nawr (2003).

Personal life and death Gregory was married to Welsh actor Robert Blythe until their separation. The couple had two daughters, Angharad Elen and Rhian Alaw. Angharad is a writer and television producer, and Rhian also became an actress.

Gregory died with her daughters by her side on 21 November 2017 in Llandwrog, at the age of 71.