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Lisa Dillon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lisa Stawiarski 1979 (age 45–46) Coventry, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Awards | Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer The Master Builder Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Newcomer 2003The Master Builder Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Newcomer 2003The Master Builder |
Lisa Dillon (néeStawiarski; born 1979) is an English actress.
Dillon attendedBournemouth School for Girls and left in 1997. She began a degree in English Literature and Drama atRoyal Holloway, University of London but abandoned it when she won a place at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Whilst training at RADA, Dillon appeared in several productions staged there, including:Hamlet andThe Tempest byWilliam Shakespeare,The Devils byJohn Whiting,The Devil's Law Case byJohn Webster,Yentl byLeah Napolin andThe Playboy of the Western World byJ. M. Synge. Her first theatrical job after graduation was the title role inEuripides'Iphigeneia at Aulis at theCrucible Theatre,Sheffield.[1]
She then went on to appear in numerous theatre productions, including as Hilda Wangel inThe Master Builder byHenrik Ibsen at theAlbery Theatre, (now the Noël Coward Theatre) London.[2] Desdemona inOthello (with theRSC at theTrafalgar Studios, London, before embarking on an international tour).[3] Ibsen'sHedda Gabler as Thea (Almeida Theatre, London, later transferring to theDuke of York's Theatre, London)[4] andPeriod of Adjustment byTennessee Williams (TheSwan Theatre,Stratford-upon-Avon later transferring to the Almeida Theatre, London.)[5]
In 2007, she returned to the Crucible to play Celia in Shakespeare'sAs You Like It during February[6] (in a production that also played at theRSC complete works festival) and Varya inChekhov'sThe Cherry Orchard during March.[7] She then starred in theNational Theatre's revival ofNoël Coward'sPresent Laughter[8] andThe Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other.[9] She also appeared inAnna Mackmin's 2008 West End revival ofUnder the Blue Sky byDavid Eldridge.
In 2009, Dillon starred inWhen the Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida, and in 2010 inDesign for Living and its successor productionA Flea In Her Ear at the Old Vic. Eldridge created the role of Lucy inThe Knot of the Heart, presented at the Almeida in March 2011, specifically for Dillon. In early 2012, Dillon played the role of Katharina in theRoyal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Stratford and touring production ofThe Taming of the Shrew.[10] In 2013, she starred with Joel Samuels andWilliam Troughton inHappy New (written byBrendan Cowell) and performed in London's West End.[11]
In 2014, she starred as Moll Cutpurse inThe Roaring Girl with the RSC. In December 2015 she took the title role inHapgood for directorHoward Davies at theHampstead Theatre.[12]
Dillon is now best known for her role as Mary Smith in theBritish television seriesCranford[13] onBBC One where she starred alongsideMichael Gambon,Imelda Staunton,Jim Carter andJudi Dench. She also starred in the 2003 dramaCambridge Spies[14] and the 2004 TV film,Hawking,[15] both of which were also for the BBC. She appeared inThe Jury (ITV) in autumn 2011 and appeared as Melinda in the third episode ofDirk Gently forBBC Four in March 2012.
Dillon's film credits include theStephen Fry directed 2003 filmBright Young Things.[16]
In 2008 Dillon duetted with British singer-songwriterTim Arnold on his song "She's Made A Gentleman Of Me".[17]
In 2011 Dillon read a Jarvis and Ayres production of Hilda Richards' 1939 story "Jemima Gets Them Guessing" forBBC Radio 4's Afternoon Reading show, on 9 March.[18]
She has undertaken the following roles in productions by Jarvis and Ayres for BBC Radio 4 of:Honey Ryder in "Dr. No" on 24/5/2008;Tilly Masterson in "Goldfinger" on 3/4/2010;Tracy Draco in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" on 3/5/2014;Tiffany Case in "Diamonds are Forever"" on 25/7/15 andPatricia Fearing in "Thunderball" on 10/12/2016.[19]
In 2003 she was nominated for theEvening Standard Award forOutstanding Newcomer of the Year for the performance she gave in a production ofIbsen'sThe Master Builder.[20] She won that year'sIan Charleson Award, in part, for that performance.
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