Кейт О’Мара: жизнь и творчество актрисы

English actress (1939–2014)

Kate O'Mara (born Frances Meredith Carroll; 10 August 1939 – 30 March 2014) was an English film, stage and television actress, and writer. O'Mara made her stage debut in a 1963 production of The Merchant of Venice. Her other stage roles included Elvira in Blithe Spirit (1974), Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (1982), Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra (1982), Goneril in King Lear (1987), The Rani in Doctor Who (1985 & 1987) and Marlene Dietrich in Lunch with Marlene (2008). In the cinema, O'Mara acted in two 1970 Hammer Horror films: The Vampire Lovers and The Horror of Frankenstein. On BBC television, she had regular roles in The Brothers (1975–1976), Triangle (1981–1982) and Howards' Way (1989–1990), and portrayed Doctor Who villain the Rani three times (1985–1993). She also appeared as Jackie Stone in two episodes of the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1995–2003) and as Virginia O'Kane in four episodes of the prison drama Bad Girls (2001). On American television, she played Caress Morell, the scheming sister of Alexis Colby in the primetime soap opera Dynasty (1986).

O'Mara was born to John F. Carroll, an RAF flying instructor, and actress Hazel Bainbridge (born Edith Marion Bainbridge; 25 January 1910 – 7 January 1998). Her younger sister is actress Belinda Carroll. After boarding school she attended art school before becoming a full time actress. O'Mara made her stage debut in a production of The Merchant of Venice in 1963, although her first film role was some years earlier (under the name Merrie Carroll) in Home and Away (1956) with Jack Warner, as her father, and Kathleen Harrison. In 1970, she appeared in two Hammer Studio horror films: The Vampire Lovers and The Horror of Frankenstein. In the former, she had an erotically charged scene with Ingrid Pitt, in which O'Mara was meant to be seduced; the two women were left laughing on set, however, as Pitt's fangs kept falling into O'Mara's cleavage. O'Mara's work in The Vampire Lovers impressed Hammer enough for them to offer her a contract, which she turned down, fearful of being typecast. She played the villainous Rani in Doctor Who in two serials, The Mark of the Rani (1985) and Time and the Rani (1987), and also in the Doctor Who 30th anniversary spoof Dimensions in Time (1993), part of the Children in Need charity event. Between these appearances in Doctor Who, she auditioned for a leading role as one of the sisters on the American primetime soap The Colbys, a spin off of the American prime time soap opera Dynasty. Eventually, O'Mara was offered one of the roles alongside Stephanie Beacham, but declined since was still under contract with a production of stage play Light Up the Sky at the Old Vic Theatre. Shortly after, she was offered the part of Caress Morell on Dynasty. As the sister of Alexis Colby (Joan Collins), O'Mara appeared in 17 episodes of the sixth season and 4 episodes of the seventh during 1986. "We had a tremendous bitchy tension between us", the actress recalled about performing opposite Collins. “My character Caress was like an annoying little mosquito who just kept coming back and biting her.”

O'Mara spoke on several occasions about her experience with the casting couch. On an episode of The Word in 1994, O'Mara claimed that American producer Judd Bernard pulled down her panties during a hotel room audition for the Elvis Presley vehicle Double Trouble. In her autobiography Vamp Until Ready: A Life Laid Bare, O'Mara described this incident and "many other close encounters with this very unpleasant and humiliating procedure", including with a well known television casting director, the boss of Associated Television at ATV Elstree Studios, and the director of Great Catherine. O'Mara continued to make television appearances throughout the 1990s, including Cluedo (1990), and playing Jackie Stone (Patsy's older sister) in two episodes of Absolutely Fabulous (1995–2003). In 2001, she had a recurring role in the ITV prison drama series Bad Girls before appearing in the short lived revival of the soap opera Crossroads. She continued to perform on stage and in March 2008 she played Marlene Dietrich in a stage play entitled Lunch with Marlene. From August to November 2008, she played Mrs Cheveley in Oscar Wilde's stage play An Ideal Husband directed by Peter Hall and produced by Bill Kenwright. She performed in radio and audio plays. In 2000, she reprised her role as the Rani in the BBV Productions audio play The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind, and in 2006 she made a guest appearance in the radio comedy series Nebulous. In 2012, O'Mara appeared in a theatre adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.

O'Mara was married twice, first to Jeremy Young in 1971; the couple divorced in 1976. In 1993, she married Richard Willis, but the marriage was dissolved in 1996. She had two sons, Dickon Young (1964–2012) and Christopher Linde (born 1965), both from previous relationships. Dickon took his stepfather's surname but Christopher, having been given up for adoption, was named by his adoptive parents, Derek and Joy Linde. O'Mara was in hospital with pneumonia at the time of her son's death and his body was not discovered for three weeks. O'Mara wrote four books. She wrote two novels: When She Was Bad (1992) and Good Time Girl (1993), ). She also wrote two autobiographical books, Vamp Until Ready (2003) and Game Plan: A Woman's Survival Kit (1990)
Speaking about her bouts of depression, later in her life, O'Mara said: " I've since learnt a cure for depression: listening to J. S. Bach and reading P. G. Wodehouse. This got me through the break up of my second marriage 17 years ago. The great thing about Wodehouse is that his books are full of romantic problems and yet so hilarious that it puts things in perspective I'm not frightened of dying, but I love the countryside so much and I'm going to miss it. I'd like to be out in the wind and the trees for ever."

O'Mara died on 30 March 2014 in a Sussex nursing home, aged 74, from ovarian cancer. She left a £350,000 estate, bequeathing £10,000 to the Actors’ Benevolent Fund and, after the funeral and legal fees, the remainder to her younger sister Belinda Carroll, a former actress.

Year Title Role Notes 1956 Home and Away Annie Knowles As Merrie Carroll 1962 Captain Clegg Girl at Inn Uncredited 1967 Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond Miss Moneypenny's assistant Uncredited1968 Corruption Val Nolan Great Catherine Varinka Gordon Flemyng film The Limbo Line Irina Tovskia 1969 The Desperados Adah Henry Levin film1970 The Vampire Lovers The Governess (Mme. Perrodot) Roy Ward Baker film Cannon for Cordoba Ruby The Horror of Frankenstein Alys Jimmy Sangster film1974 The Tamarind Seed Anna Skriabina Blake Edwards film Feelings Barbara Martin Gerry O'Hara film 1976 Machinegunner Pat Livingston1978 An Unknown Friend Karen Lindén The Nativity Salome 1992 Aladdin Madam Roly Poly Voice Beauty and the Beast Lucinda Voice 1999 The Road to Ithaca Despina

Year Title Role Notes 1964–1966 No Hiding Place Jacqueline 2 episodes 1965 Danger Man Annette Episode: A Room in the Basement 1965 Gaslight Theatre Patience Episode: The Drunkard or, the Sins of the Parents Shall Be Visited 1965 Hereward the Wake Richilda Episode: The Court of Love1966 Court Martial Episode: Logistics of Survival 1966 Weavers Green Mick Armstrong 1967 Adam Adamant Lives! Sonia Fawzi Episode: The Basardi Affair 1967 The Troubleshooters Kim Hart Episode: Mr. Know How 1967–1968 The Saint Annabelle / Nadine / Yvette Episodes: Double Take, Counterfeit Countess, Fast Women 1967–1969 Z Cars Kate / Mae Astell 4 episodes 1968 Promenade Laura Short film 1968 The Champions Jane Purcell Episode: To Catch a Rat 1969 The Avengers Lisa Episode: Stay Tuned 1969 The Main Chance Julia Main 4 episodes 1969 Department S Pietra Episode: Who Plays the Dummy 1970 Never a Cross Word Ellie Episode: When is a Spy 1970 Codename Helen Lingard Episode: Opening Gambit 1970 Paul Temple Luciana Benedetti Episode: Re take 1970 The Adventures of Don Quick Peleen Episode: People isn't Everything 1972 A Man About a Dog Storm Riordan 1972 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Storm Riordan 1972 The Persuaders! Heidi Schulman Episode: Read and Destroy 1972 Jason King Delphi Episode: A Kiss for a Beautiful Killer 1972 Clouds of Witness Cynthia Tarrant Episode 1.3 1972 Pathfinders Section Officer Anne Denby Episode: Fog 1973 Spy Trap Sharon Lunghi 3 episodes 1974 The Protectors Sarah Trent Episode: A Pocketful of Posies 1975–1976 The Brothers Jane Maxwell 30 episodes 1976 Morecambe & Wise Kate O'Mata Hari Christmas Special 1976 The Two Ronnies The Gypsy Queen 1977 The Two Ronnies Lucy Lee Series 6 Episodes 3–6: Stop! You're Killing Me mini serial 1978 Return of the Saint Jeanette Episode: Assault Force 1979 The Plank 'It's Paint' Woman 1981–1982 Triangle Katherine Laker 27 episodes 1985–1987 Doctor Who The Rani 6 episodes (2 Stories) 1986 Dempsey and Makepeace Joyce Hargreaves Episode: Guardian Angels 1986 Dynasty Cassandra "Caress" Morell Recurring (Seasons 6–7) 1987 Great Catherine Varinka 1989–1990 Howards' Way Laura Wilde 26 episodes 1990 Cluedo Mrs. Peacock Episode: Christmas Past, Christmas Present 1992 Aladdin (Not Disney) Madam Roly Poly (voice) Direct to video film 1993 Comic Relief: The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes Female Patient 1993 Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time The Rani Guest appearance 1995–2003 Absolutely Fabulous Jackie Stone 2 episodes 1997 The New Adventures of Robin Hood Lady Isabelle Episode: Marion to the Rescue 2001 Bad Girls Virginia O'Kane 4 episodes 2003 Crossroads Lady Alice Fox Soap opera 2005 Family Affairs Jackie Lawrence Soap opera 2008 Doctors Rosetta Froom Episode: Fears, Feats & the Frooms 2012 Benidorm Barbara Simmonds 1 episode, (final appearance)