Kate O'Mara

Infobox actor


name = Kate O'Mara
birthname = Kate Carroll
birthdate = birth date and age|1939|08|10
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occupation = Television actress
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Kate O'Mara (b. August 10 1939, Leicester) is an English film and television actress.

Born as Kate Carroll, the daughter of John Carroll and actress Hazel Bainbridge. She was educated at the Aida Foster School, beginning an early career as a speech therapist, but switched gears to acting. O'Mara had an out of wedlock son, Chris (b. 1963), whom she was forced to give up for adoption but was later reunited with him. She made her debut in a stage production of "The Merchant of Venice" in 1963.

Although she was one of Hammer Studio's Glamour Girls ("The Vampire Lovers", "The Horror of Frankenstein"), O'Mara these days is best known for her work in television series. Prominent roles in dramas such as "The Brothers" (as Jane Maxwell),"Triangle" (as Katherine Laker) and "Howards' Way" (as Laura Wilde) has seen O'Mara carve a niche for herself as a determined "ball-breaking" female on television. She also played a recurring villainess, the Rani, in the science fiction series "Doctor Who".

She played Caress Morell, sister of Alexis Colby (played by Joan Collins) on "Dynasty" as well as Jackie Stone, sister of Patsy Stone (played by Joanna Lumley) on "Absolutely Fabulous".

On radio, O'Mara made a guest appearance in the radio comedy series "Nebulous" in 2006.

In March 2008 she played Marlene Dietrich in a stage play entitled 'Lunch with Marlene'. From August to November 2008, she plays Mrs Cheveley in Oscar Wilde's stage play 'An Ideal Husband' directed by Peter Hall and produced by Bill Kenwright.

Writing

She has written several autobiographical books ("Vamp Until Ready", "Game Plan: A Woman's Survival Kit"), as well as novels ("When She Was Bad", "Good Time Girl").

Filmography

*"The Saint" (TV) (1965)
*"Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond" (TV) (1967) - uncredited appearance as Miss Moneypenny's assistant [http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=7070]
*"The Champions" episode "To Catch a Rat" (1968)
*"The Avengers" episode "Stay Tuned (1968)
*"Weavers Green" (TV Series)
*"Corruption" (1967)
*"The Limbo Line" (1968)
*"Promenade" (1968)
*"The Desperados" (1969)
*"The Main Chance" (TV)
*"The Horror of Frankenstein" (1970)
*"The Vampire Lovers" (1970)
*"The Brothers" (TV)
*"Lord Peter Wimsey" "Clouds of Witness" (1972) (TV)
*"Whose Child Am I?" (1974)
*"The Tamarind Seed" (1974)
*"Machinegunner" (1976) (TV)
*"The Nativity" (1978) (TV)
*"Tuntematon ystävä" (1978)
*"The Plank" (1979) (TV)
*"Triangle" (TV)
*"Doctor Who" (1985,1987,1993) (TV)
*"Dynasty" (1986) (TV)
*"Howards' Way" (TV)
*"Absolutely Fabulous" (TV)
*"The Road to Ithaca" (1999)
*"Bad Girls" (TV)
*"Crossroads" (TV)
*"Family Affairs" (TV)

External links

*imdb name|id=0641817|name=Kate O'Mara
* [http://www.itvlocal.com/meridian/news?&void=235268/ Opening the Southampton Boat Show 2008]