Sneha Girap (Editor)

Jeillo Edwards

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Occupation
  
Actress

Years active
  
1972–2003


Name
  
Jeillo Edwards

Role
  
Actress

Jeillo Edwards wwwreddwarfcoukfeaturesinterviewsjeilloedwa

Born
  
23 September 1942 (
1942-09-23
)
Freetown, Sierra Leone

Died
  
July 2, 2004, London, United Kingdom

Spouse
  
Edmund Clottey (m. 1970–2004)

Movies
  
Beautiful Thing, Dirty Pretty Things, Black Joy, Memoirs of a Survivor, The Line - the Cross and the C

Similar People
  
Hettie MacDonald, Stephen Frears, Anthony Simmons, Kate Bush

Jeillo Edwards (23 September 1942, Freetown, Sierra Leone – 2 July 2004, London, England) was a Sierra Leonean actress, who is notable in the history of black actors in Britain. She was the first woman of African descent to study drama at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She went on to be one of the first black actresses to be cast in a mainstream UK television drama series – Dixon of Dock Green, and for more than four decades performed on British television, radio, stage and films.

Contents

Biography

Jeillo Angela Doris Edwards was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, one of six children, and she attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School.

She moved to England in the late 1950s and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She began performing at the age of four, reading from the Bible at her church. She was well known for her distinctive voice and imperious enunciation. She featured on the BBC World Service for Africa, which was broadcast in the UK. She became popular in the United Kingdom, appearing on television, where she held the distinction of being the first black woman to appear on British television as well as being the first African to appear on The Bill, radio and on stage.

She appeared in cameo roles in many British television comedy programmes, including The League of Gentlemen, Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf, Black Books, Spaced and Little Britain, in which she had been planned to appear in the second series before her death.

As well as acting she also at one time was a school governor and owned a restaurant called Auntie J's in Brixton.

In the early 1970s, she married a Ghanaian, Edmund Clottey, and they had a daughter and two sons. Jeillo Edwards died in London at the age of 61, having suffered chronic kidney problems.

Actress

  • 2003: Little Britain .... Nurse (1 episode, 2003)
  • 2003: M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team .... Agnes Welsh (1 episode, 2003)
  • 2003: Murder in Mind .... Phyllis (1 episode, 2003)
  • 2002: Dirty Pretty Things .... Hospital Cleaning Lady
  • 2002: Anansi .... Aunt Vera
  • 2001: Absolutely Fabulous .... Jeillo (1 episode, 2001)
  • 2001: Sam's Game .... Mumma (1 episode, 2001)
  • 2001: Spaced .... Tim's Benefit Clerk (1 episode, 2001)
  • 2000: Black Books .... Midwife (1 episode, 2000)
  • 2000: The Thing About Vince .... Mrs. Cuffy (2 episodes, 2000)
  • 2000: The League of Gentlemen .... Yvonne (1 episode, 2000)
  • 2000: Tough Love (TV) .... Irate Woman
  • 1999: Red Dwarf .... Second Ground Controller (1 episode, 1999)
  • 1998: A Rather English Marriage (TV) .... Sister
  • 1998: Babes in the Wood .... Nigerian Lady (1 episode, 1998)
  • 1998: In Exile (TV series) .... Mother (1 episode, 1998)
  • 1997: Holding On .... Aunt Gaynor (5 episodes, 1997)
  • 1997: Paris, Brixton .... Landlady
  • 1996: Beautiful Thing .... Rose
  • 1994: Pat and Margaret (TV) .... Tea Bar Lady
  • 1994: A Skirt Through History .... Mary Prince (1 episode, 1994)
  • 1993: The Line, the Cross & the Curve .... Dancer 'Eat the Music'
  • 1992: Screen One .... Mrs. Jessop (1 episode, 1992)
  • 1989: Sob Sisters .... Woman with dog (1 episode, 1989)
  • 1989: Casualty .... Grandmother / ... (3 episodes, 1989–1997)
  • 1988: Rumpole of the Bailey .... Lady Cashier (1 episode, 1988)
  • 1988: London's Burning .... Mrs. Jones (1 episode, 1988)
  • 1987: The Bill .... Clarice Paine / ... (5 episodes, 1987–2000)
  • 1987: Elphida (TV) .... Somali woman
  • 1987: Scoop (TV) .... Mrs. Jackson
  • 1985: Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense .... Landlady (1 episode, 1985)
  • 1983: Maybury .... Mrs. Galsworthy (1 episode, 1983)
  • 1982: Love Is Old, Love Is New (TV) .... Ward maid
  • 1981: Memoirs of a Survivor .... Woman at Newsstand
  • 1975: Play for Today .... Lucy / ... (2 episodes, 1975–1980)
  • 1975: Angels .... Mrs. Jobo (2 episodes, 1975–1980)
  • 1979: Empire Road ... Mary O'Fili (1 episode, 1979)
  • 1979: Room Service TV series .... Mrs. McGregor (unknown episodes)
  • 1978: The Professionals .... West Indian Woman (1 episode, 1978)
  • 1978: Betzi (TV) .... Sarah
  • 1976: Centre Play .... Nurse (2 episodes, 1976–1977)
  • 1972: Dixon of Dock Green .... Mrs. Morgan (1 episode, 1972)
  • Filmography

    Actress
    2003
    Little Britain (TV Series) as
    Nurse
    - Hard-Boiled Egg Eating (2003) - Nurse
    2003
    M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team (TV Series) as
    Agnes Welsh
    - Rubbish (2003) - Agnes Welsh
    2003
    Murder in Mind (TV Series) as
    Phyllis
    - Landlord (2003) - Phyllis
    2002
    Tough Love (TV Movie) as
    Irate Woman
    2002
    Dirty Pretty Things as
    Hospital Cleaning Lady
    2002
    Anansi as
    Aunt Vera
    2001
    Absolutely Fabulous (TV Series) as
    Jeillo
    - Menopause (2001) - Jeillo
    2001
    Sam's Game (TV Series) as
    Mumma
    - Mumma's (2001) - Mumma
    2001
    Spaced (TV Series) as
    Tim's Benefit Clerk
    - Change (2001) - Tim's Benefit Clerk
    1987
    The Bill (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Ambrose / Mrs. Peake / Clarice Paine / ...
    - Carnival (2000) - Mrs. Ambrose
    - Wheels (2000) - Mrs. Peake
    - Hot Plastic (1997) - Clarice Paine
    - Put Down (1993) - Mary Mullen
    - Just Send Some Flowers (1992) - Mrs. Konchella
    - Bad Faith (1988) - Mrs. Keel
    - Double Trouble (1987) - Woman at Counter
    2000
    Black Books (TV Series) as
    Midwife
    - Cooking the Books (2000) - Midwife
    2000
    The Thing About Vince (TV Mini Series) as
    Mrs. Cuffy
    - Episode #1.3 (2000) - Mrs. Cuffy
    - Episode #1.1 (2000) - Mrs. Cuffy
    2000
    Metropolis (TV Mini Series) as
    Mrs. Bentley
    - Episode #1.2 (2000) - Mrs. Bentley
    - Episode #1.1 (2000) - Mrs. Bentley
    2000
    The League of Gentlemen (TV Series) as
    Yvonne
    - Royston Vasey and the Monster from Hell (2000) - Yvonne
    1999
    Tube Tales as
    Middle Aged Woman (segment "Steal Away") (as Jello Edwards)
    1999
    Red Dwarf (TV Series) as
    Second Ground Controller
    - Back in the Red: Part 3 (1999) - Second Ground Controller
    1998
    A Rather English Marriage (TV Movie) as
    Sister
    1998
    Babes in the Wood (TV Series) as
    Nigerian Lady
    - Episode #1.1 (1998) - Nigerian Lady
    1998
    In Exile (TV Series) as
    Mother
    - Episode #1.5 (1998) - Mother
    1997
    Paris, Brixton (Short) as
    Landlady
    1997
    Holding On (TV Mini Series) as
    Aunt Gaynor
    - Episode #1.7 (1997) - Aunt Gaynor
    - Episode #1.5 (1997) - Aunt Gaynor
    - Episode #1.4 (1997) - Aunt Gaynor
    - Episode #1.3 (1997) - Aunt Gaynor
    - Episode #1.2 (1997) - Aunt Gaynor
    1989
    Casualty (TV Series) as
    Joan / Jean MacKenzie / Grandmother
    - What Friends Are For (1997) - Joan
    - Negative Equity (1994) - Jean MacKenzie
    - Union (1989) - Grandmother
    1996
    The Knock (TV Series) as
    Indian Lady
    - Episode #2.2 (1996) - Indian Lady
    1996
    Beautiful Thing as
    Rose
    1992
    Screen One (TV Series) as
    Tea Bar Lady / Mrs. Jessop
    - Pat and Margaret (1994) - Tea Bar Lady
    - Black and Blue (1992) - Mrs. Jessop
    1994
    A Skirt Through History (TV Series) as
    Mary Prince
    - The Two Marys (1994) - Mary Prince
    1993
    The Line, the Cross & the Curve (Short)(segment "Eat the Music")
    1992
    Us Girls (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Aka
    - Episode #2.3 (1993) - Mrs. Aka
    - Episode #1.4 (1992) - Mrs. Aka
    1992
    Old Boy Network (TV Series) as
    Chambermaid
    - Female of the Species (1992) - Chambermaid
    1989
    Sob Sisters (TV Series) as
    Woman with Dog
    - I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore (1989) - Woman with Dog
    1988
    Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series) as
    Lady Cashier
    - Rumpole and the Quality of Life (1988) - Lady Cashier
    1988
    London's Burning (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Jones
    - Episode #1.2 (1988) - Mrs. Jones
    1987
    Elphida (TV Movie) as
    Somali woman
    1987
    Scoop (TV Movie) as
    Ishmaelia - Mrs Jackson
    1985
    I Woke Up One Morning (TV Series) as
    Connie
    - Episode #1.3 (1985) - Connie
    - Episode #1.2 (1985) - Connie
    - Episode #1.1 (1985) - Connie
    1984
    Tripper's Day (TV Series) as
    Dottie's Mother
    - Alarms and Diversions (1984) - Dottie's Mother
    1984
    Fox Mystery Theater (TV Series) as
    Landlady
    - Paint Me a Murder (1984) - Landlady
    1983
    Maybury (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Galsworthy
    - Alice: Part 1 (1983) - Mrs. Galsworthy
    1983
    Goodnight and God Bless (TV Series) as
    Chambermaid
    - Little Green-Eyed Monster (1983) - Chambermaid
    1982
    Love Is Old, Love Is New (TV Series) as
    Ward maid
    - Episode #1.4 (1982) - Ward maid
    1981
    Memoirs of a Survivor as
    Woman at Newstand
    1972
    Play for Today (TV Series) as
    Nurse / Lucy
    - Name for the Day (1980) - Nurse
    - Through the Night (1975) - Lucy
    - In the Beautiful Caribbean (1972)
    1975
    Angels (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Barrett / Mrs. Jobo
    - Episode #6.31 (1980) - Mrs. Barrett
    - Staff (1975) - Mrs. Jobo
    1979
    Empire Road (TV Series) as
    Mary O'Fili
    - The Shark (1979) - Mary O'Fili
    1979
    Room Service (TV Series) as
    Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.7 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.6 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.5 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.4 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.3 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.2 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    - Episode #1.1 (1979) - Mrs. McGregor
    1978
    The Professionals (TV Series) as
    West Indian Woman
    - Hunter/Hunted (1978) - West Indian Woman
    1978
    Betzi (TV Movie) as
    Sarah
    1976
    Centre Play (TV Series) as
    Nurse / Aggie
    - The Sniffler and the Pug (1977) - Nurse
    - Commonwealth Season: Nigeria - A Kind of Marriage (1976) - Aggie
    1977
    Black Joy as
    Auntie
    1972
    Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Morgan
    - Trial and Error (1972) - Mrs. Morgan

    References

    Jeillo Edwards Wikipedia


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