Godspeed Barbara Shelley

Barbara  Shelley, who established herself as one of the foremost scream queens of her time in a number of Hammer Films, died on January 4 2021 at the age of 88. The cause was COVID-19.

Barbara Shelley was born Barbara Kowin in Maylebone, London on February 13 1932. She began her career as a model in 1951. This led to her appearing as a small role of fashion commentator in the Hammer Films movie Mantrap in 1953. She was credited under her given name. In 1953 she visited Rome and met actor Walter Chiari. This led to her appearing in the Italian films Luna Nova (1955), Destinazione Piovarolo (1955), I quattro del getto tonante (1955), Motivo in maschera (1955), Lacrime di sposa (1955), Ballata tragica (1955), Mio figlio Nerone (1956), Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge (1956), and Suprema confessione (1956). In 1957 she starred in her first horror film, Cat Girl. She appeared in The End of the Line (1957), before appearing in her first Hammer production The Camp on Blood Island (1958). It was followed by the  movie,  Blood of the Vampire (1958). She finished out the Fifties appearing in the films The Solitary Child (1958), Deadly Record (1959), Bobbikins (1959), Murder at Site 3 (1959), Village of the Damnded (1960), A Story of David (1960). Barbara Shelley made her television debut in the Italian TV show I tre moschettieri in 1956. She guest starred in the shows Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion, Solo for Canary, ITV Television Playhouse,  BBC Sunday-Night Theatre, Charlesworth, White Hunter, The Invisible Man, Interpol, Rendezvous, Danger Man, and BBC Sunday-Night Play.

In the Sixties Barbara Shelley continued to appear Hammer Horrors, including Shadow of the Cat (1961), The Gorgon (1964), The Secret of Blood Island (1964), Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), and Quatermass and the Pit (1967). She also appeared in the movies Postman's Knock (1962), Death Trap (1962), Stranglehold (1963), and Blind Corner (1964). On television Barbara Shelley was a regular on the show Rupert of Hentzau. She guest starred on BBC Sunday-Night Play, Suspense, The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, The Saint, Ghost Squad, Route 66, The Lloyd Bridges Show, The Third Man, The New Phil Silvers Show, No Hiding Place, Detective, The Human Jungle, Hazel, The Farmer's Daughter, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., 12 O'Clock High, The Donna Reed Show, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Preview Tonight, Intrigue, The Avengers, Vendetta, ITV Play of the Week, Champion House, The Revenue Men, Man in a Suitcase, Mr. Rose, Counterstrike, The Troubleshooters, and Paul Temple.

In the Seventies, Barbara Shelley appeared in the movie Ghost Story (1974). She was a regular on the TV show Oil Strike North. She appeared in the movies John Halifax, Gentlemen;  People Like Us; and Pride and Prejudice. She guest starred on Bachelor Father (the British series); The Troubleshooters; ITV Saturday Night Theatre; Z Cars, Hadleigh; Dixon of Dock Green; Justice; The Hanged Man; The Two Ronnies; and Crown Court.

In the Eighties Barbara Shelley guest starred on Bergerac, By the Sword Divided, Jackanory Playhouse, Doctor Who, The District Nurse, and EastEnders. She appeared in the mini-series The Borgias and The Dark Angel.

Barbara Shelley was a very talented actress and perfectly suited to Hammer Horrors. She could go from being serene or taciturn to being outright evil in a film, and be realistic doing so. Over the years she played a variety of roles, from a palaeontologist's assistant in Quatermass and the Pit to one of Dracula's victims to the Tsarina's lady-in-waiting in Rasputin, the Mad Monk. Regardless of the role, she always gave a good performance.