Susannah York

Susannah York (born January 9, 1942^[1]) is an Academy Award-nominated English film and television actress.

Biography

Early life

York was born as Susannah Yolande Fletcher in London. York studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.^[2]

Career

In 1960, York appeared in her second movie, Tunes of Glory, costarring with Alec Guinness and John Mills. She appeared in the films A Man for All Seasons (1966), The Killing of Sister George (1968) and Battle of Britain (1969). She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). In 1972 she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Images. She famously snubbed the Academy Awards when, regarding her nomination, she declared it offended her to be nominated without being asked. Obviously, she did not attend the ceremony. Her writing career is less well-known. In the 1970s she wrote two children's fantasy novels, In Search of Unicorns (1973), revised (1984), allegedly filmed as Images, and Lark's Castle (1976, revised 1986). She is best known for playing Superman's mother Lara in Superman (1978) and its sequels, Superman II (1980) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). York, according to Italian symphonic metal band Rhapsody of Fire website (previously known as Rhapsody), has been recruited for a narrated part on the band's next full-length album Triumph or Agony, which will also include Christopher Lee to return as the Wizard King. In 2007, York will be appearing on stage in the UK tour of The Wings of the Dove, and will continue performing her internationally acclaimed solo show, The Loves of Shakespeare's Women. Also in 2007, she guest starred in the Doctor Who audio play Valhalla.

Personal life

In 1960, York married Michael Wells, with whom she has two children, Orlando and Sasha. They divorced in 1976. In the 1984 TV adaptation of A Christmas Carol, she played Mrs. Cratchit and both of her children co-starred as Cratchit offspring. Her son, Orlando Wells, starred in the Channel 4 teen drama, As If. Wells gave York her first grandchild, Rafferty, in 2007. Politically, she is a leftist who has publicly supported Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli dissident who revealed Israel's nuclear weapons programme. While performing The Loves of Shakespeare's Women at the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv in June 2007, York dedicated the performance to Vanunu, evoking both cheers and jeers from the audience.

Filmography

References

External links

• Susannah York at the Internet Movie Database
• Susannah York at BFI Screenonline