Isla Blair

Isla Blair Glover (born 29 September 1944) is a British actress and singer. She made her first stage appearance in 1963 as Philia in the London debut of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Early life and education Isla Blair was born in Bangalore, India, on 29 September 1944. Her father, Ian Baxter Blair-Hill, was a British tea planter. Blair's interest in performing arts first became apparent when, at the age of two, she gave an impromptu singing performance on the boat ride from India to the United Kingdom. She went on to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to prepare for a career in acting.

Career Blair made her first stage appearance at the Strand Theatre on 3 October 1963 playing the part of Philia in the London debut of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for their 1971 season, during which she portrayed Emilia in The Man of Mode and Aglaya in Subject to Fits. In 1973, Blair toured the Middle East with the Prospect Theatre Company in the role of Viola in Twelfth Night. Other venues at which Blair has performed include the Old Vic and the Nottingham Playhouse. The following day, she declined a second offer of a ride from McCartney. The scene they had been filming, which was Blair's only scene in the movie, was eventually cut and lost.

Blair guest starred in two episodes of Space: 1999; appearing in 1975, along with Anthony Valentine, in War Games and in 1976, along with Freddie Jones, in Journey to Where. In 1976, Blair played Emma Antrobus in the ITV drama series The Crezz. She played a principal role (Sally) in the BBC's alternative history TV serial An Englishman's Castle, first broadcast in 1978. One of her best known TV appearances was as Flora Beniform in The History Man (1981) alongside Anthony Sher. Blair played Claire Carlsen, Francis Urquhart's Parliamentary Private Secretary, in The Final Cut (1995). In 2003, she played opposite John Nettles in an episode of Midsomer Murders as a psychological profiler. She played Nanny Langton in The Star of Jacob, Father Brown (S5:E1, 2016). She played the part of a foreign agent, disguised as a bride, in The Avengers episode "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Station". (1967)

In 2010, she appeared at The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond in The Company Man by Torben Betts. She was nominated for the Offie for Best Actress.

Blair has narrated many audiobooks. In 2014–15 she appeared in the stage musical Made in Dagenham.

Personal life Blair is married to fellow actor Julian Glover, Along with Prunella Scales, Blair and Glover were involved with the expansion of the Salisbury Playhouse. She was vice president of TACT, the Actors' Children's Trust, in 2015 and trustee in 2018.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1964 A Hard Day's Night Young Actress Scene deleted 1965 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Pretty Girl Uncredited1968 A Flea in Her Ear Antoinette The Three Princes Princess Yasmin TV film 1969 Battle of Britain Mrs. Moore1970 Taste the Blood of Dracula Lucy Paxton The Hero of My Life Ellen Ternan TV film 1974 The Canterville Ghost Lady Stutfield TV film 1976 Alien Attack Female Alien TV film 1983 The Beggar's Opera Jenny Diver TV film 1984 Real Life Anna 1985 Off Peak Elizabeth TV film1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Mrs. Donovan Valmont Baroness1990 Treasure Island Mrs. Hawkins TV film The Monk Mother Agueda 1996 In Your Dreams Jamie's Mother TV film 1997 The House of Angelo Peg Wallington 1998 Heaven on Earth Mary Weston TV film1999 The Match Sheila Bailey The Greatest Store in the World Grand Lady TV film 2002 Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War Matron 2003 AfterLife Dr. Jackson 2005 The Quatermass Experiment Blaker TV film 2011 Johnny English Reborn Shirley 2016 Brash Young Turks Newsreader Voice role 2017 Amy and Sophia Vivien 2020 The Reverend and Mrs Simpson Anna Wilson

Television Year Title Role Notes 1965 Laughter from the Whitehall Rhoda Marley Episode: "Rookery Nook"1966 The Liars Sarah Series regular This Man Craig Jean Stoddart Episode: "A Rough Passage"1967 ITV Play of the Week Daphne Stillington Episode: "Present Laughter" The Avengers Bride Episode: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station" Mickey Dunne Babs Chesterton-Manville Episode: "A Handful of Coloured Chalks"1968 The Dickie Henderson Show Jane Recurring role Gazette Bettie Strickland Episode: "In Between the Lines"1969 The Saint Janine Flambeau Episode: "The Ex-King of Diamonds" Department S Elaine Episode: "The Treasure of the Costa Del Sol" 1970–1971 The Doctors Dr. Linda Carpenter Series regular 1971 Jason King Anne Winters Episode: "A Red Red Rose Forever" 1972 Spy Trap Marie Hansen Episode: "A Visit from Hamburg" 1973 The Regiment Lucy Franshaw Episode: "Troopship"1974 Fall of Eagles Grand Duchess Ella Mini-series Warship Sarah Foules Episode: "Nothing to Starboard"1975 The Venturers Joanne Kelly Episode: "Gilt Edged" Dixon of Dock Green Fleur Harris Episode: "A Slight Case of Love" A Legacy Caroline Trafford 2 episodes Quiller Germaine Allenby Episode: "Sacrifice to Survival"Space: 1999 Female Alien Episode: "War Games"1976 Carla Episode: "Journey to Where" One-Upmanship Episode: "Womanship" The Crezz Emma Antrobus Series regular 1976–1977 When the Boat Comes In Lady Caroline 5 episodes1978 BBC2 Play of the Week Christina Episode: "Forgotten Love Songs" Wilde Alliance Helen Bardskey Episode: "Too Much Too Often" Blake's 7 Sinofar Episode: "Duel" An Englishman's Castle Jill Mini-series1981 The History Man Flora Beniform Mini-series Only When I Laugh Nurse Bradley Episode: "Dear Diary" 1982 Alexa Alexa Mini-series 1982–1983 The Bounder Laura Miles Series regular1983 Crown Court Melissa St. John Episode: "Brainwashed: Part 1" Doctor Who Isabella Episode: "The King's Demons" 1983–1984 Storybook International Narrator Series regular 1984 Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Eileen Episode: "Tennis Court"1985 Screen Two Constance Scott Episode: "Poppyland" Taggart Eleanor Samson Episode: "Murder in Season"1986 Hold the Back Page Val Barnett Episode: "Our Man on the Spot" King and Castle The Honorable Lisa Berkeley Episode: "Romance"1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Penny Osmond Episode: "Backlash" Boogie Outlaws Inspector Leesley Mini-series 1988 Bookie Sylvia Cowan Mini-series 1989 Mother Love Ruth Vesey Mini-series 1990 Haggard Lady Amelia Foulacre Episode: "Eye of Newt" 1991 Boon Caroline Mortlake Episode: "Pillow Talk" 1991–1992 The Advocates Katherine Dunbar Series regular1992 The Good Guys Maggie Episode: "Horseplay" Inspector Morse Janey Wilson Episode: "Cherubim & Seraphim" The Darling Buds of May Caroline Lime Episode: "Le Grand Weekend" 1993 Medics Janet Wendell 1 episode 1994 Taggart Lavinia Martin Episode: "Hellfire"1995 The Final Cut Claire Carlsen Mini-series Doctor Finlay Stroma Kennedy Episode: "No Time for Heroes" 1997 A Touch of Frost Rosalie Martin 3 episodes1998 The Bill Barbara Chambers Episode: "Too Many Cooks" Heartbeat Elaine Aubrey Episode: "Taking Sides"2000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries Myrtle Quincy Episode: "The Worsted Viper" Dalziel and Pascoe Florence Stockton Episode: "Foreign Bodies" 2002 Holby City Mary Harrow Episode: "Love and Devotion" 2003 Midsomer Murders Dr. Jane Moore Episode: "Death and Dreams" 2004 New Tricks Alice Pimley Episode: "Good Work Rewarded" 2006 Casualty Agnes Ross Episode: "It's Now or Never"2010 Single Father Beatty Mini-series Law & Order: UK Carla Hopley, D.P.P. 2 episodes 2013 Quick Cuts Jenny 1 episode 2014 Grantchester Gladys Sheppard 1 episode 2016 Father Brown Nanny Langton Episode: "The Star of Jacob" 2019 Casualty Alice Jones 1 episode