Dilys Watling

Watling was born Dilys Rhys Jones, the daughter of actor Ion Rhys Jones and Patricia Hicks (1919–2011). Ion Rhys Jones was killed in action in World War II, and her mother later married actor Jack Watling.[1]

She attended St Mary's Convent School, Woodford, Essex, followed by acting school. She went on to act in repertory theatre and at the Bristol Old Vic. Watling was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her Broadway debut in the short-lived Georgy in 1970. It proved to be her sole Broadway credit. Other stage credits include the musical Pickwick (1964), an adaptation of Dickens's The Pickwick Papers; the role of the Beggar Woman in the 1980 London cast of Sweeney Todd in the West End; and the West End multi-media Dave Clark rock musical Time (1986). She also made occasional film appearances including roles in the comedy Two Left Feet (1963) and the horror film Theatre of Death (1967).

Watling has four half-siblings through her mother's marriage to actor Jack Watling. These include actor Deborah and politician/actor Giles Watling.

Watling has been married twice: her first husband was Australian Bruce Anderson, from whom she divorced. After a relationship with actor Christopher Matthews she later married Owen Teale, by whom she has a son, Ion.

• Dilys Watling at IMDb