'Queen of Hammer' dead at British screen legend Barbara Shelley who starred in horror classics from Dracula to The Gorgon dies from 'underlying issues' after hospital Covid battle
Hammer Horror screen legend Barbara Shelley was mourned today after dying aged 88 - after a lifetime thrilling viewers who still sent her fan mail.
The actress - who starred in s and s Hammer Horror films - acted with other icons including Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
And her credits included some of horror's best-known films in The Gorgon, Dracula, Prince Of Darkness and Rasputin, Quatermass And The Pit, as well as Blood Of The Vampire, and Village Of The Damned.
Shelley was one of the movie stables' most glamorous leading ladies but insisted 'no one said I was beautiful'.
Barbara Shelley and Christopher Lee in the classic Dracula: Prince of Darkness, the film for which she was best known
Shelley shared the bill with Christopher Lee in the horror hit regarded as an all-time classic by Hammer Horror studios
Barbara Shelley was one of horror's best-known faces and starred in films and TV series up until
She also appeared in the Doctor Who episode Planet Of Fire, starr
Hammer leading lady Barbara Shelley dies
Barbara Shelley in Dracula: Prince Of Darkness |
Hammer Horror was known for its leading ladies but few put across as much force of personality as Barbara Shelley. Now the much loved actress has died, aged 88, after contracting Covid in the run-up to Christmas and developing a secondary infection.
The London-born star, who began her career as a model, worked with Hammer during its heyday in the Sixties, on films including The Gorgon, Rasputin: The Mad Monk, Dracula: Prince Of Darkness and Quatermass And The Pit. She enjoyed a wider range of roles than most of her contemporaries, playing heroines and villains, vulnerable upper class ladies and capable scientists, always bringing a keen intelligence to her work. She had a passion for science fiction and horror and described Hammer as a family, considering herself very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. She continued to attend related events and meet fans right up until , despite suffering a stroke in
Alongside her genre appearances, Shelley worked extensively in television, including Blake's 7, The Avengers, Doctor Who and The B
Over her 39 years as an actress Barbara Shelley portrayed different roles. Strangely, Shelley's Horror and Science Fiction motion picture roles totaled only 8 of that number. For an actress so associated with Hammer Horror only 6 of the 8 came from that Studio. This article looks at each of them along with three other motion pictures and two British Science Fiction television "Guest" appearances and one straight to video release.
A Brief Background
The actress was born Barbara T. Kowin in the Marylebone section of London, England, February 13, After finishing school she became a model. Followed shortly by the start of her motion picture career in a detective thriller "Man in Hiding". The movie was released in the U.K. on March 10, and was made by Hammer Studios, before becaming known for Horror and Science Fiction.
There are two interesting names connected with Shelley's first on screen appearance. The director was Terence Fisher. Fisher would become the most known Hammer Horror director. His Horror directing started with 's "The Curs
Barbara Shelley, Hammer Horror actress, dies aged 88
Tributes have been paid to the Hammer Horror film star and Doctor Who actress Barbara Shelley, who has died aged 88 after contracting Covid
She was best known for appearing in a string of horror films in the s and '60s, including Dracula: Prince of Darkness alongside Christopher Lee.
Her agent, Thomas Bowington, said she was "quietly evil" on screen.
"She really was Hammer's number one leading lady and the technicolour queen of Hammer," he told the PA news agency.
"On screen she could be quietly evil. She goes from statuesque beauty to just animalistic wildness.
"She was a regular favourite of Hammer events and autograph shows but also performed on stage with the RSC [Royal Shakespeare Company]."
Born Barbra Kowin in London in , Shelley started out as a model before beginning her film career in Italy in the mids.
This led to the London-based Hammer Film Productions giving her roles in such gothic horror features as Blood of the Vampire, The Gorgon and Rasputin: The Mad Monk.
Shelley later appeared in the Doctor Who adventure Planet of Fir
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