Biography
Who is Glynis Barber?
Early life and education
Glynis was born in Durban, South Africa. Her parents were Heather Maureen Robb and Frederick Werndly Barry van der Riet. She moved to England to train as a performer. Glynis Barber attended the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts to prepare for her professional career.
Television breakthrough
Acting since 1978, she started with small parts. She played a secretary in the 1980 production Bognor. Her first big break arrived in 1981 when she landed the role of Soolin in the science fiction series Blake's 7.
In 1982, she played the lead in the war drama Jane, which used early blue screen techniques. Audiences know Glynis best for her mid-1980s work as Sgt. Harriet Makepeace in the show Dempsey and Makepeace. While filming this police drama, she met her second husband.
Soap opera work
Throughout her career, she has taken roles in several popular soap operas. In 2006, she joined the ITV series Emmerdale as DCI Grace Barraclough to investigate a death. She left the show in 2007.
Later, in 2009, she joined the cast of EastEnders as Glenda Mitchell. She played this character off and on until 2017. More recently, in 2022, she joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks to play Norma Crow. She has also appeared in other dramas like The Royal and Night and Day.
Stage and film career
Her stage work is extensive. She appeared in plays such as Macbeth and The Graduate. In 2011, she worked with Christopher Timothy and Denis Lill in Seasons Greetings. She performed in Love Letters in 2013 at the Dundee Repertory Theatre.
From early 2015 until late 2015, Glynis appeared in the West End production of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical as Genie Klein. Her film credits include the 1983 remake of The Wicked Lady and the 1997 movie Déjà Vu. She narrated series such as The Wonderful World of Chocolate beginning in 2019. She was cast in an Agatha Christie tour for 2025 as Salome Otterbourne.
Personal life
Glynis van der Riet married actor Paul Antony-Barber in 1977. They met at drama school but divorced in 1979. During the production of Blake's 7, she had a relationship with Steven Pacey.
On 18 November 1989, she married Michael Brandon. The couple has one son together.
Birthday and age
Glynis Barber was born on October 25, 1955, which makes Glynis 71 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Glynis shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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