Alex Marshall (born 1945) is an English actress and director, who was most active from the 1960s to the 1980s.
She has acted and directed mostly on television, but has worked on stage in both careers.
Work Beginning her career as an actress, Marshall had many roles in theatre and television productions. In 1966, appeared on stage as Audrey Johnson in Countercrime, a play directed by Hugh Goldie, a production later recorded for television.Lionel Carson, The Stage Year Book: Issue 35 (1966), p. 50. From 1969 to 1974, she was a storyteller for BBC Television’s Jackanory.Radio Times, Volume 202 (Newnes, 1974), pp. 36, 40. In 1970, she appeared on stage again, in Keep Out, Love in Progress by Walter Hall, taking the lead, opposite Robert Gillespie.Otis L. Guernsey, The Best plays of 1970–1971 (Dodds, Mead, 1971), p. 76: Keep Out, Love in Progress by Walter Hall, at Basement Theatre, Soho, with Alex Marshall and Robert Gillespie.
In the BBC serial of Jude the Obscure (1971), Marshall took the leading role of Arabella Donn, a pig-keeper’s daughter who seduces and marries Jude. Reviewing the production in Life, John Leonard found that “Alex Marshall as Arabella steals the series”.John Leonard, writing as "Cyclops", "Hardy fans have to be hardier" in Life magazine dated 5 November 1971, p. 13.
Marshall abandoned her acting career in 1974, having made more than three hundred appearances on television over the previous ten years, to become a television director. She commented to Des Wilson, for an article in The Observer, that her income had arrived at £5,000 a year, but she was disillusioned.Des Wilson, Six girls heading for stardom in The Observer Magazine, 1974 volume, p. 524: “‘Actresses are passive objects waiting to be picked up by the profession and used’, says Alex Marshall, who made more than 300 television appearances over 10 years, and reached £5,000 a year, but finally abandoned her career as an actress to become a television director." She explained:
In 1976, Marshall was researcher and script editor for Granada Television’s Crown CourtNew Society, Volume 36 (New Society Limited, 1976), p. 37. and later went on to direct episodes of the show. In 1978 she directed Empire Road, a BBC Two weekly serial,Akua Rugg, Brickbats & Bouquets: black Woman's Critique (Race Today Publications, 1984), p. 43. and other directing work included episodes of Jackanory Playhouse,Jackanory Playhouse: Princess Griselda’s Birthday Gift (1978) at sms.cz, accessed 9 January 2019. ITV Playhouse, BBC2 Play of the Week,Radio Times for 15 February 1978: BBC2 Play of the Week: The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill (15 Feb 1978) dir. Alex Marshall. and Play for Today.Epi.sode guide 1982 at britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk, accessed 9 January 2019. In his memoirs, the actor Norman Beaton recalled Marshall from their time together on Empire Road: "An attractive blonde, she had a disarming smile which concealed a will of iron."Norman Beaton, Beaton but unbowed: an autobiography (Methuen, 1986), p. 200.
In 1989, Marshall directed a London stage production of Peter King's The Health Farm.London Theatre Record, Volume 9, Issues 14—26, p. 1676.
Television appearances Z-Cars: The Whizzers (1963) as StenographerAlex Marshall at aveleyman.com, accessed 4 February 2019. Crossroads (1965) as Christine Fuller”Make a date at the Crossroads” in TV Times magazine dated 11 January 1965. Dixon of Dock Green: The Hunt for June Fletcher (1966) as Girl in clubListings for 26 November 1966 at bbc.co.uk/schedules, accessed 1 January 2019. ITV Playhouse: Countercrime (1968) as Audrey JohnsonCountercrime at bfi.org.uk, accessed 5 January 2019. ITV Sunday Night Theatre: Better Dead (1969) as Mollie Jackanory (1969–1974) as Storyteller Morning Story (1970) as Mrs AllanRadio Times, Volume 186, issue dated 4 January 1970, p. 25. Whom God Hath Joined (1970) as Renee SouchonRadio Times, vol. 189 (Newnes, 1970), p. 53. Jude the Obscure (1971) as Arabella DonnPaul J. Niemeyer, Seeing Hardy: Film and Television Adaptations of the Fiction of Thomas Hardy (2015), p. 262. Budgie: Brief Encounter (1971) as Fiona Coronation Street (Yvonne Chappell, 11 episodes, 1971)William Roache, 50 Years on the Street: My Life with Ken Barlow (2010), chapter 9, "The love of a good woman”: “I had some long scenes on location with Alex Marshall, who played Yvonne". On the Buses (1971) as BerylAlex Marshall played Beryl, a clippie who catches Arthur’s eye; from Craig Walker, On the Buses: the Complete Story (2011), p. 207. Play for Today The House on Highbury Hill (1972) as MarigoldThe House on Highbury Hill at bfi.org.uk, accessed 2 January 2019. New Scotland Yard (1972) as Denise Wright Thirty-Minute Theatre Attocity (1973) as Miss MilesAtrocity (BBC-2 1973 with Anthony Douse and Alex Marshall) at memorabletv.com, accessed 1 January 2019. Then and Now: Tigers Are Better Looking (1973) as Heather
Television as director Jackanory Playhouse: Princess Griselda’s Birthday Gift (1978) Crown Court (1978–1979) Empire Road, weekly serial, 1978 BBC2 Play of the Week: The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill (1978) ITV Playhouse (1980) Play for Today (1982)
Notes
External links Alex Marshall at IMDb as actress Alex Marshall at IMDb as director Alex Marshall at aveleyman.com