Colette O'Neil

Mary Irene Colette Ellis (née McCrossan, 18 November 1935 – 11 July 2021), better known by the stage name Colette O'Neil, was a Scottish actress, noted for her various roles on British television.

This article is about the Scottish television actress. For the English silent-film actress, see Colette O'Niel.

Colette O'Neil
Born
Mary Irene Colette McCrossan[1]

(1935-11-18)18 November 1935
Glasgow, Scotland
Died11 July 2021(2021-07-11) (aged 85)
Glasgow, Scotland
Spouse
Michael Ellis
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1973)​
Children3

Life and career

O'Neil was a semi-regular cast member of Coronation Street in the mid-1960s as Ruth Winter, and also made frequent guest appearances in series such as Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Adam Adamant Lives!, No Hiding Place and Softly, Softly.[2] She was also a leading cast member in the drama series The Standard[3] and The Spoils of War.

She played the role of Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, in the BBC television version of The Wars of the Roses.

In 1983 she appeared in Doctor Who in the role of Tanha in the serial Snakedance.[4]

She latterly appeared in Taggart, Lovejoy, Hamish Macbeth, Heartbeat, Peak Practice, Holby City, Monarch of the Glen and Bad Girls.[2]

Her film appearances were few, but included roles in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), The Smashing Bird I Used to Know (1969), Dreams Lost, Dreams Found (1987), Wild Flowers (1989), and Mortdecai (2015).[5]

She also appeared as Hannah Sempel, the "keeper of the keys", in the BBC Radio drama "McLevy" alongside Scottish actors Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond.

O'Neil married Michael Ellis and had two daughters and one son. She died in Glasgow in July 2021, at the age of 85.[6][7]

Radio credits
DateTitleRoleDirectorStation
23 October 1976DS Vogel: Body on the Heath[8]Laura HollandJane MorganBBC Radio 4
2 June 2004Visiting TimeSarahLu KempBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
11 June 2004Soft Fall the Sounds of EdenJanetGaynor MacfarlaneBBC Radio 4 Friday Play
28 January 2005Folie à TroisColleenGaynor MacfarlaneBBC Radio 4 Friday Play
14 July 2005The Best Snow for SkiingValdaLu KempBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
1 June 2004 – 1 June 2004The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes[9]Miss WallacePatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
11 August 2008 – 15 August 2008The Pillow Book[10]TozammiLu KempBBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
26 November 2012McLevy: A Dangerous Remedy[11]HannahBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Drama
3 December 2012McLevy: No Looking Back[12]HannahBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Drama
28 October 2016Blood Sex and Money by Emile Zola: 3.7. FateAncient WomanKirsty WilliamsBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play

References
  1. "Colette O'Neil Biography ((?)-)". filmreference.com.
  2. "Colette O'Neil".
  3. "The Standard (1978)". Archived from the original on 18 November 2018.
  4. "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Snakedance - Details". BBC.
  5. "Colette O'Neil". Archived from the original on 18 November 2018.
  6. Mary Irene Colette (Nee Mc Crossan) Ellis death notice
  7. Colette O'Neil obituary
  8. BBC - Radio 4 Extra - DS Vogel: Body on the Heath
  9. [BBC Radio 4 Extra - Sherlock Holmes, The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Series 2, The Tragedy of Hanbury Street BBC – Radio 4 Extra – The Tragedy of Hanbury Street]
  10. BBC – Woman's Hour Drama – The Pillow Book
  11. BBC – Afternoon Drama – McLevy: A Dangerous Remedy
  12. BBC – Afternoon Drama – McLevy: No Looking Back


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