Susan George

Susan Melody George (born 26 July 1950) is an English film and television actress. She is best known for appearing in films such as Straw Dogs with Dustin Hoffman, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) with Peter Fonda and Mandingo (1975) with Ken Norton.

In the early and mid 1970s, George played provocative, sometimes controversial roles (such as Amy Sumner in Straw Dogs, and Blanche Maxwell in Mandingo) and became typecast. Cinema writer Leslie Halliwell described her as a "British leading lady, former child actress; usually typed as sexpot".

Her lighter side was apparent in some of her TV appearances, such as in an episode ("The Gold Napoleon") of The Persuaders (1971) with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. In 1988, George marked her film-producing debut with Stealing Heaven.

Also on TV, George played the role of Vicky Duncan in "Czech Mate", an acclaimed episode of Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984).

Early life Susan Melody George was born on 26 July 1950 in Surbiton, Surrey, to Billie and Norman George, with sister, Pamela Anne George. She recalled spending many holidays at the caravan park in Font-y-Gary in South Wales as a child. She trained at the Corona Theatre School and has acted since the age of four.

Career She appeared in The Dickie Henderson Show in 1962 and started working steadily on television in shows such as ITV Television Playhouse, Swallows and Amazons and Weavers Green.

George had small roles in films such as The Sorcerers (1967) and Up the Junction (1968).

British stardom George starred opposite Michael York in The Strange Affair (1968). She starred in All Neat in Black Stockings (1969) then the lead and starring role in Lola (also known as Twinky) in 1969 with Charles Bronson. Other starring roles include: Spring and Port Wine (1970) with James Mason, Eyewitness (1970) with director John Hough, Die Screaming, Marianne (1971) and Fright (1971) for director Peter Collinson. A number of her early films were made for EMI Films.

George's international breakthrough was starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs (1971), a huge box office hit. When asked in a 2013 interview about working with Hoffman and director Sam Peckinpah in Straw Dogs, George said:

George went to Europe to appear in Sonny and Jed (1972).

US career George received an offer to star in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) for director John Hough, which was a big hit. Also popular was Mandingo (1975).

Less seen were Out of Season (1975), A Small Town in Texas (1976), Tintorera (1977) and Tomorrow Never Comes (1978).

George guest starred on television and was in Enter the Ninja (1981), Venom (1981), The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)

Later career George moved into producing and later returned to England.

Personal life Susan George was married to Simon MacCorkindale from 1984 until his death in 2010. They did not have any children.

Before her relationship with MacCorkindale began in 1982, she had a four-year relationship with American singer Jack Jones from 1972–1976, and spent another four years as the partner of casino manager Derek Webster from 1977–1981.

George breeds Arabian horses and has a stud farm called Georgian Arabians.

In 2016 she launched the charity Lasting Life – the Simon MacCorkindale Legacy as a cancer support charity in memory of her husband. In the King's birthday honours list in June 2026 she was made an MBE for charitable service.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1965 Cup Fever Vicky Davis 1966 Davy Jones' Locker Susan Haddock 1967 The Sorcerers Audrey Billion Dollar Brain Russian girl on train (Uncredited)1968 Up the Junction Joyce The Strange Affair 'Fred' March 1969 All Neat in Black Stockings Jill Twinky Twinky 1970 The Looking Glass War Susan Spring and Port Wine Hilda Crompton Eyewitness Pippa 1971 Die Screaming, Marianne Marianne Fright Amanda Straw Dogs Amy Sumner 1972 Sonny and Jed Sonny Lester Trigado 1974 Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry Mary Coombs 1975 Mandingo Blanche Maxwell Out of Season Joanna 1976 A Small Town in Texas Mary Lee Carter 1977 Tintorera Gabriella 1978 Tomorrow Never Comes Janie 1981 Enter the Ninja Mary Ann Venom Louise Andrews 1982 The House Where Evil Dwells Laura Fletcher Kiss My Grits Baby 1983 The Jigsaw Man Penelope Kimberley 1986 Lightning, the White Stallion Madame Rene 1989 That Summer of White Roses Ana 2008 In Your Dreams Barbara Wood-Ross 2009 City of Life Constance 2014 Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's Nest Mrs. Ada Booth 2023 1066 Queen Emma

Television

As executive producer Stealing Heaven (1988) That Summer of White Roses (1989) The House That Mary Bought (1995) (TV)

As miscellaneous crew Jackie Brown (1997) ('very special thanks')

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1983 10th Saturn Awards Best Actress The House Where Evil Dwells