Helen Jessop

JESSOP, Helen (****-****). Actress

Biography

She was born in Sri Lanka and finished her education in London.

Training

She graduated as an Associate of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Performed in Move Over Mrs. Markham, That's No Lady That's My Husband, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, The Rape of the Belt, The Pay Off, Home at Seven, Relatively Speaking, How the Other Half Loves, Middle Age Spread (for Pieter Toerien).

She starred in Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy Relatively Speaking, directed by John Hussey at The Market Theatre in 1978. It also starred Hussey, Andre Hattingh and John Rogers. She starred in The Company’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s How the Other Half Loves together with Kenneth Baker, Richard Haines and Yvonne Banning and directed by Graham Armitage at The Market in 1979. She starred in Middle Age Spread with Rex Garner and Eric Flynn. Pieter Toerien sponsored a tour of this play before it opened at the André Huguenet Theatre in October 1980 and in Bedroom Farce for the Market Theatre, 1982. She starred as Phoebe in the PACT production of John Osborne’s The Entertainer together with Michael Atkinson, Stuart Brown, Kate Edwards and Gina Benjamin at the Alexander Theatre in June 1983. Played the role of Helen in Pack of Lies in 1985 at the Market Theatre.

TV: leading part of Mary Debman in the series Settlers.

She played Mrs Hampton in Lambarene, a film by Gray Hofmeyr. 1991.

Awards

Won the Gallery Club Award for best Actress in 1978.

Dalro award for best actress for her role in Relatively Speaking.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

SACD 1977/78) (SACD 1979/80) (SACD 1980/81)

Pack of Lies programme notes of the run at the Market Theatre in 1985.

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