Glynis Barber

Glynis Barber
Barber in 2007
Born
Glynis van der Riet

(1955-10-25) 25 October 1955 (age 68)
Durban, South Africa
Alma materMountview Academy of Theatre Arts
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
Known forDempsey and Makepeace
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Night and Day
Blake's 7
Hollyoaks
Spouse(s)
(m. 1977; div. 1979)

(m. 1989)
Children1
Websitewww.glynisbarber.com Edit this at Wikidata

Glynis Barber (born Glynis van der Riet; 25 October 1955) is a South African actress. She is known for her portrayals of Sgt. Harriet Makepeace in the British police drama Dempsey and Makepeace, Glenda Mitchell in EastEnders, DCI Grace Barraclough in Emmerdale, Fiona Brake in Night and Day, and Soolin in Blake's 7. In 2022, she joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Norma Crow.

Early life

Barber was born in Durban, South Africa, the daughter of Heather Maureen (Robb) and Frederick Werndly Barry van der Riet.

Acting career

Television

Barber studied at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Acting since 1978, securing small parts such as a secretary in 1980 in Bognor, her breakthrough came in 1981 with her role as Soolin in Series 4 of the BBC science fiction television series Blake's 7 although she had also played a different character in a Series 1 episode.

In 1982, she took the title role in the television series Jane playing a Second World War heroine. This series was filmed against a blue screen allowing for the addition of a cartoon background, an experimental technique in its day. However, Barber is best known for her mid-1980s role of Sgt. Harriet Makepeace in the police drama Dempsey and Makepeace, where she met her future husband, Michael Brandon.

Since 1987, Barber has appeared frequently in plays, films and television series. She also starred in the LWT drama series Night and Day as Fiona Brake. In 2006, she joined the cast of ITV soap, Emmerdale, playing the character of DCI Grace Barraclough, investigating the death of Tom King on Christmas Day. She exited the soap in September 2007, when her character was killed. In 2009, she appeared as hospital administrator Jean McAteer in The Royal, another ITV drama series set in Yorkshire. In the same year, she and Brandon both appeared in an episode of the BBC series New Tricks, entitled "The Truth Is Out There".

On 23 October 2009, it was announced she would play Glenda Mitchell the mother of Ronnie Mitchell, Roxy Mitchell and Danny Mitchell in EastEnders after Jill Gascoine withdrew from the role during her first day on set. On 27 February 2011, it was announced that Barber was to leave EastEnders in March 2011. In February 2015, Barber admitted that she would consider an EastEnders comeback. The star commented: "I’ve always felt that Glenda left with a few unresolved issues. It would be fun to go back and create a little bit of havoc!". Glenda returned for two episodes on 1 January 2016. Barber returned to EastEnders full-time in January 2017 before leaving once again in February.

In September 2013, she appeared in the ITV dancing show Stepping Out with husband Michael Brandon. In August 2019, Barber narrated When Luxury Holidays Go Wrong on C5 and would later appear in the television series The Outpost. Since 2019, she has been narrating the Channel 5 series The Wonderful World of Chocolate. Then in 2022, she joined the cast of Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Norma Crow.

Theatre

Her stage work has included Macbeth, Killing Time with Dennis Waterman, High Flyers with Hugh Grant, Make Me a Match and The Graduate. In 2011, Barber starred alongside Christopher Timothy and Denis Lill in Alan Ayckbourn's Seasons Greetings, playing Belinda. In 2013, she played Melissa Gardner in Love Letters at Dundee Repertory Theatre along with Michael Brandon. Barber played Carole King's mother, Genie Klein, in the West End production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical from its opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 24 February 2015 until 28 November 2015.

Film

Her early film roles included the horror film Terror, and the football drama Yesterday's Hero starring Ian McShane. She appeared as Lady Caroline in Michael Winner's 1983 remake of The Wicked Lady, which starred Faye Dunaway. In 1989, she appeared as Elisabeth Jekyll in Edge of Sanity, and the 1997 film Déjà Vu alongside Vanessa Redgrave. She appeared as Anthea Davis in On the Nose in 2001 along with Dan Aykroyd and Robbie Coltrane.

Personal life

Glynis van der Riet married actor Paul Antony-Barber, whom she met at drama school, in 1977; the couple divorced in 1979. During the filming of Blake's 7 she had a relationship with co-star Steven Pacey. She married her Dempsey and Makepeace co-star Michael Brandon on 18 November 1989; the couple have a son.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Terror Carol Tucker
1979 Yesterday's Hero Susan
1982 Invaders of the Lost Gold Janice Jefferson
Tangiers Beth
1983 The Wicked Lady Caroline
The Hound of the Baskervilles Beryl Stapleton
1989 Edge of Sanity Elisabeth Jekyll
1992 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side Lola Brewster
1997 The Apocalypse Watch Janine Courtland
Déjà Vu Claire
1998 Beings Nancy Preston
2001 On the Nose Anthea Davis
2013 Hammer of the Gods Astrid
2014 Edge of Tomorrow General Tiernan Scene cut
2015 Point Break FBI Head of Investigations
2019 Passport to Oblivion Simone Voice
TBA Dream Hacker Sue Hamilton Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Blake's 7 Mutoid Episode: "Project Avalon"
1979 BBC Play of the Month Ethel Voysey Episode: "The Voysey Inheritance"
1980 The History of Mr. Polly Christabel Episode: #1.2
The Sandbaggers Margaret Muller Episode: "To Hell with Justice"
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson Sophie Episode: "The Case of the Sitting Target"
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson Meredith Stanhope Episode: "The Case of the Three Uncles"
1981 Bognor Secretary Guest cast for 6-episode story "Deadline"
A Fine Romance Linda Episode: "Unlucky in Love"
Kelly Monteith Various Episode: #3.4
Blake's 7 Soolin Main cast (Series 4)
1982 The New Adventures of Lucky Jim Lucy Simmons Main cast
1982–1984 Jane Jane Title character
1985–1986 Dempsey and Makepeace Makepeace Title character
1986 Love and Marriage Fiona Jebb Episode: "Demons"
1987 Screen Two Lucy Episode: "Visitors"
1988 Tales of the Unexpected Lilian / Sylvia Brett Episode: "The Dead Don't Steal"
1989 Monsters Dr. Jarris Episode: "Mannikins of Horror"
1991 Palace Guard Danielle Episode: "Iced"
1994 Diagnosis Murder Samantha Litvak Episode: "Georgia on My Mind"
1994–1995 Turbocharged Thunderbirds Tin-Tin
Sally
Lady Penelope
4 episodes
1998 Babes in the Wood Angela Episode: ##1.6
1999 Highlander: The Raven Rachel Episode: "The Rogue"
The Bill Victoria Smith Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy"
2000 Doctors Miranda Stockton Episode: "Love You Madly"
2001 Dark Realm Mrs. Parker Episode: "The House Sitter"
2001–2003 Night & Day Fiona Brake / Gwen Main cast
2003 The Afternoon Play Brenda Episode: "Turkish Delight"
Murphy's Law Patricia Morris Episode: "Kiss and Tell"
2005 Family Affairs Belinda Heath 5 episodes
2006–2007 Trial & Retribution Dora Hills 2 episodes
Emmerdale DCI Grace Barraclough 18 episodes
2009 New Tricks Cheryl Brooker Episode: "The Truth Is Out There"
2009–2011 The Royal Jean McAteer Main cast (Series 8)
2010–2011,
2016–2017
EastEnders Glenda Mitchell 109 episodes
2013 Law & Order: UK Sue Pendle Episode: "Dependent"
Comedy Feeds Cynthia Episode: "Bamboo"
Casualty Barbara Cullen Episode: "Three's a Crowd"
Marple Cora Van Stuyvesant Episode: "Endless Night"
2018 Royal Hearts Joan TV movie
2019 London Kills Kirsten Pryce MP Episode: "The Politician's Son"
2019–2020 The Outpost Gertrusha Main cast (seasons 2–3)
2022–present Hollyoaks Norma Crow Series regular
2022 Silent Witness Caroline Bergqvist 2 episodes
  1. ^ Credited as main cast only in the 7 episodes of seasons 2–3 in which she appeared, of the 26 total episodes aired in those seasons.

Audio

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Blake's 7 Magda Episode: "The Way Ahead"
2019 Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures Kathy Blake Episode: "The Sinestran Kill"
2022 Doctor Who: The First Doctor Adventures Nicholaa de la Haye Episode: "The Outlaws"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Goosebumps: Escape from Horrorland Mrs. Morris
2001 Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising Church

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2002 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Night and Day Nominated
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Best Exit Emmerdale Nominated
2011 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year EastEnders Nominated
2022 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain Hollyoaks Nominated
2023 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain Hollyoaks Pending

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