A South African born actress, who was a star of the stage, film and television. Hildegard Neil moved to the UK in 1961 to study at RADA, with one of her first screen roles coming soon after graduation, playing Calpurnia in a BBC schools production of Julius Caesar (1963). More television roles came her way, including No Hiding Place (1964), Resurrection (1968) Imperial Palace (1969), The Main Chance, Doomwatch (both 1970), Jason King (1971), The Protectors (1973), Boy Dominic (1974), The Professionals (1978), Van der Valk, Space: 1999 (both 1977), Diamonds (1981) and Hotel Babylon (2007). On the big screen, she starred in such films as The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970), Antony and Cleopatra (1972), A Touch of Class and England Made Me (both 1973). Neil was married to Brian Blessed and appeared with him in several productions for the screen and theatre, including the 1997 film version of King Lear.
Read Hildegard Neil's Guardian obituary
