Gillian Elizabeth Thomas (born 10 August 1953) is a Welsh actress, singer, and comedian. Early in her career she was known as Gillian Elisa Thomas.
Early life and education Elisa was born in Carmarthen, Wales, and brought up in Lampeter; she began acting before she started school. As a sixth-former at Ysgol Gyfun Llanbedr-Pont Steffan in Lampeter, she co-wrote a Welsh-language musical, Yr Enfys (The Rainbow). After leaving school, she studied at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.
Career In 1975, she was chosen by producer Endaf Emlyn to play the lead in a Welsh-language rock opera. Since that time, she has been a well-known figure on Welsh-language television.
On S4C television, she played (1974–2010) the part of Sabrina Daniels in the long-running soap Pobol y Cwm and the comic character "Mrs O.T.T." in the variety entertainment programme Noson Lawen. She appeared in the gangster drama series Y Pris. She has performed one-woman comedy shows at the Edinburgh Festival. As a singer, she has completed three albums of new and traditional Welsh songs – Rhywbeth yn y Glas, Haul ar Nos Hir, and Lawr Y Lein, as well as appearing on a number of other recordings.
She is best known to English-speaking audiences for her leading role in the 2018 drama series Hidden, which was filmed in both Welsh and English, Elisa travelled around Wales with fellow actress Ruth Jones as part of the Welsh language show Iaith ar Daith, which shows celebrities learning Welsh and putting it to practice.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1986Coming Up RosesSian1991Body BeautifulSonia / Shopkeeper / Beryl's Mom1997Twin TownPat1999The Last Seduction IIBarbara2012Rain: An Original MusicalMrs. Coots2014Billy Elliot the Musical LiveAlternate Grandma / Ensemble20192nd Date SexVal2022Save the CinemaTown clerk
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1978HawkmoorElinorEpisode #1.21978DylanLady in Swansea pubTelevision film1979Heyday in the BloodBeti1979Border Country1980, 2004Pobol y CwmSabrina Daniels2 episodes1981The Life and Times of David Lloyd GeorgeAnita4 episodes1981Taff AcreYvonne Jenkins10 episodes1984The Magnificent EvansDorindaEpisode #1.21988The Snow SpiderMrs. Davies2 episodes1990Screen OnePhoebeEpisode: "Sticky Wickets"1991A Mind to KillWPS AlisonTelevision film1992Forever GreenMary PowellEpisode #2.91992The Winter StallionMrs. HowardTelevision film1994–1997A Mind to KillWPS Alison13 episodes1995, 1996GogsVoice2 episodes1998Mortimer's LawJane Harris2007High HopesChlamydiaEpisode: "Dead Man Walking"2007Y PrisAnne5 episodes2007, 2009Gavin & StaceyWelsh Nationalist / Lingerie Lady2 episodes2009Ar y TracsEluned HughesTelevision film2010SherlockSurgery ReceptionistEpisode: "The Blind Banker"2011Ar y Tracs: Y Tren i'r GemEluned HughesTelevision film2011ZanzibarEirionaEpisode #1.62011–2012AlysHeulwen16 episodes2015–2017StellaNana Pat / Mrs. Evans6 episodes2017BangLiz2 episodes2018HiddenIona Harris7 episodes201935 AwrVal8 episodes2020Holby CityGrace AllanEpisode #22.142021The PactGwen3 episodes2021JamMags4 episodes
References
External links
Official website Chortle: Gillian Elisa With Jo's Heatwave Equity Wales: Gillian Elisa