Zelah Clarke (born 5 April 1954) is a British actress who has mainly appeared in television productions.
Career Clarke trained as a ballet dancer alongside Jenny Agutter and Fiona Fullerton. She began her career in small roles, including in West End musicals and theatre. She started to work as a television actor in 1972. Among her roles were Ceinwen Lloyd in How Green Was My Valley (1976) and Susan Nipper in Dombey and Son (1983). She also appeared in the first episode of Poldark (1975)
Clark is best known for playing Jane Eyre in the 1983 British television serial Jane Eyre, an adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel of the same name, produced for the BBC. The serial also starred Timothy Dalton as Edward Rochester. Clarke lamented in an interview that the role of Jane had virtually ended her career. She had received good reviews, she conceded, but for her, work had dried up while her co-star Timothy Dalton had become a star.
Clarke was nominated for a 1985 CableACE Award for Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for her portrayal of Jane Eyre.
Clarke has continued to undertake voice work recording audiobooks including, Nina Bawdin's Outside Child and Carrie's War, and Three Legged Friends.
Reviews Ed Hulse from Barnes and Noble wrote of Clarke's performance as Jane Eyre, " ... [she] makes a properly soulful Jane: reserved but courageous in her quiet way."
Mike Cummings for the All Movie Guide wrote, Rarely has a motion picture presented a tale of romance with such subtlety, sensitivity, and power as this 1983 Julian Amyes adaptation of the Charlotte Bronte classic Jane Eyre. Credit Zelah Clarke (Jane) and Timothy Dalton (Edward Fairfax Rochester) for the success of the film. Perfectly cast in their roles as lovers separated by untold secrets and repressed emotions, they act beautifully together, mixing chemistry and charisma to produce the kind of magic that holds audiences in thrall.
Private life Clarke is married to BBC executive producer Francis Ash and they have a daughter Lamorna.
Appearances Film/Television Sourced from IMDb YearTitleRoleYearTitleRole 1972 The Triple Echo (Film) First Girl 1975 Poldark (Mini Series Ep. 1.1) Woman in Coach 1976 How Green was my Valley (Mini Series) Ceinwen Lloyd 1976 Shadows (Series) Grizelda 1976 The Duchess of Duke Street (Series) Kath 1977 A Christmas Carol (Movie) Martha Cratchit 1978 Crown Court (Series) Nadia Phillips 1978 A Woman's Place (Series) Glenys 1978 The Lost Boys (Mini Series) Wendy 1980 Richard's Things Nurse 1981 BBC2 Playhouse (Series) Jane 1983 Dombey & Son (Mini Series Ep. 1.1–1.10) Susan Nipper 1983 Jane Eyre (Mini Series) Jane Eyre 1983 Lady Jane Lady Anne Wharton 1986 Casualty (Series 1 Ep.) Ruth White 1987 No Place Like Home (TV series) Mrs. Pilkington 1990 Perfect Scoundrels (Series 1 Ep.) Estate Agent 1991 Dodgem (Series Ep. 1.1) Magistrate 1993 Screen Two (Series) Shop Assistant 1993 The Chief (Series Ep. 3.4) Mrs Kelly
Selected Appearances Plays The plays were staged at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, London, all directed by David Conville, Richard Digby-Day and Christopher Biggins YearTitle 1978The Man of Destiny A Midsummer Night's DreamThe Dark Lady of The Sonnets
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