Eileen Atkins was born in London 1934. Her stage debut came in 1953 at the Regents Park Open Theatre. She has had a profilic career on stage and television and more recently on film. She and Jean March were the creators of the hughly popularTV series “Upstairs, Downstairs”. She won critical acclaim in the West End and on Broadway in 1966 in “The Killing of Sister George” with Beryl Reid. Susannah York played her part on film. Ms Atkins film highlights include “The Dresser” in 1983, “Gosford Park” in 2001 and “Cold Mountain” in 2003.
TCM Overview:
Veteran British star of both stage and screen, Eileen Atkins rose from her working-class roots to become one of the most accomplished and decorated actresses to cross the Atlantic. Though not as well known across the pond as contemporaries Judi Dench or Helen Mirren, Atkins nonetheless thrived on the stage, earning numerous awards and nominations, especially for her several transformative performances as novelist Virginia Woolf. While acting remained her bread and butter, Atkins occasionally used her talents as a writer to create unforgettable television like the popular “Upstairs, Downstairs” (ITV, 1971-75), the acclaimed stage play “Vita & Virginia” (1994) and the well-regarded screenplay for “Mrs. Dalloway” (1997). All throughout her career, she remained in an unparalleled class, building a sterling resume that eventually earned her a place in the Theater Hall of Fame in 1998. While her feature career remained relatively muted compared to her stage work â¿¿ a few highlights like “Gosford Park” (2001) and “Cold Mountain” (2003) stood out â¿¿ Atkins nonetheless established herself as an actress of unending verve and talent.