Gillian Barge

Gillian Barge (born Gillian Betty Bargh, 27 May 1940 – 19 November 2003) was an English stage, television and film actress.

She was born in Hastings, Sussex. She started acting at the age of 17, training at the Birmingham Theatre School.

Barge performed on the stage internationally, as well as in Britain, where she has played all the major London theatres. Her stage roles included The Cherry Orchard (as Varya), Measure For Measure (Isabella) and The Winter's Tale (Paulina). In 2001 she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award as Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Passion Play at the Donmar Warehouse.

In addition to her theatre work, Gillian Barge has numerous television appearances to her credit. These include guest appearances on episodes of Pie in the Sky (1996), Lovejoy (1994), Midsomer Murders (2002), One Foot in the Grave(1990), All Creatures Great and Small (1980), Van der Valk (1977), Softly, Softly (1972) and also in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of King Lear starring as Goneril in 1982.

Her film credits include The National Health (1973). She portrayed Gertrude Bell in the TV movie, A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia (1990).

Her second husband was the actor Clive Merrison. She died in 2003 of cancer, aged 63.