Frances Hyland (April 25, 1927 – July 11, 2004) was a Canadian stage, film and television actress. She earned recognition for roles on stage (including ten seasons with Stratford Festival) and screen (including her performance as Nanny Louisa on Road to Avonlea). Honoured with the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1994, she was called "the first lady of Canadian theatre".

Early life and education Hyland was born in 1927 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, a small town south-west of Swift Current, to Jessie (née Worden), a teacher, and Thomas Hyland, a salesman. She lived there until her parents divorced when she was one year old. She was raised by her mother's family in Ogema, Saskatchewan. When she was seven, she moved to Regina when her parents tried, and failed, to save their marriage. She had no relationship with her father after 1937.

Hyland's dreams were clouded because her family did not have a great deal of money, but she always believed that she could achieve her dreams. As did her mother, who put herself through teacher's college in order to support her daughter's education and acting career.

Thus Hyland graduated in 1948 from the University of Saskatchewan with a BA in English.Profile, journals.hil.unb.ca; accessed January 28, 2015. She earned a scholarship to and graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London England where she won a silver medal for merit in passing her exams.

Career After graduating from the Royal Academy, Hyland remained in London, and made her professional debut on London's West End, starring as Stella in Tennessee William's acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire.

In 1954, Hyland was invited by the renowned theatre director Tyrone Guthrie to open his first season of Canada's Stratford Festival, playing Isabella in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. She went on to perform at the festival through the next ten seasons. Her roles included Portia (in The Merchant of Venice), Olivia (in Twelfth Night), Perdita (in The Winter's Tale), Desdemona (in Othello) and Ophelia opposite Christopher Plummer in an acclaimed production of Hamlet. As well, Hyland directed the Stratford Festival's 1979 production of Othello.

Hyland also performed with the Shaw Festival, the Crest Theatre in Toronto in The Living Room, and on Broadway (opposite Tony Perkins in Look Homeward, Angel).

On television, Hyland co-starred in the Canadian television series The Albertans and played Nanny Louisa on Road to Avonlea.

As the leading Shakespearean actress in Canada, Hyland also used her position to champion Canadian actors' campaign for higher status and pay.

Hyland married George McCowan, a fellow Canadian actor and director. They had a son, Evan, in 1957. The couple separated shortly after.

Death On Sunday, July 11, 2004, Hyland was admitted to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada for respiratory failure from complications of a prior appendix surgery. She was pronounced deceased the following day by her son.

Awards and honours In 1970, Hyland was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1994, Hyland received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for her lifetime contribution to Canadian theatre.

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes 1963 Drylanders Liza 1966 Each Day That Comes Short 1972 Another Smith for Paradise Marie Smith 1980 The Changeling Mrs. Grey The Hounds of Notre Dame Mother Therese 1981 Happy Birthday to Me Mrs. Patterson 1983 The Sight Short 1993 The Lotus Eaters Flora Kingswood 1995 Never Talk to Strangers Mrs. Slotnick

Television

YearTitleRole Notes 1950–54 Sunday Night Theatre Megan Owen / Sonia / Penelope Blessington 4 episodes: Deep Are the Roots, Adam's Apple, Crime and Punishment, The Gift 1955 Scope 1 Episode: Prelude to Marriage On Camera 1 Episode: The Queen's Ring 1955–61 Encounter Nellie / Shevawn Flaherty / Melissa Turner 6 episodes 1957 Twelfth Night Lady Olivia TV movie 1957–59 Folio Zuzushka / Mariana / Frances 3 episodes: Proud Passage, The Master of Santiago, Ivanov 1958 Till Death Do Us Part 1 Episode: Panic at Parth Bay 1959 Hudson's Bay Susan Murray 1 Episode: Bosom Friends 1959–60 The Unforeseen Martha 3 episodes: The Storm, The Wreath, Desire R.C.M.P. Lucy Dodds / Mrs.Phillips 2 episodes: The Replacement, The Hunt 1960 Suspense Ethel 1 Episode: Love Story Startime Miss Miller / Catherine Stockmann 2 episodes: An Enemy of the People, An Enemy of the People 1960–62 Festival Margot / Duchess / Olga 5 episodes 1962 First Person 1 Episode: My Home Is Here Salt of the Earth TV movie 1961–62 Playdate Ethel / Nellie Bancroft / Alice 3 episodes: The Salt of the Earth, The Vigilante, Love Story 1910 1967 The Mystery Maker 1 Episode 1973–80 The Beachcombers Sadie 4 episodes: Sadie, Keep Your Shirt On, The Sasquatch Walks by Night, Sadie is a Lady 1974 The Naked Mind 1 Episode 1978 Catsplay Mousey TV movie Home to Stay Aunt Martha TV movie 1979 The Albertans Marjanne Hardin TV movie The Great Detective Mrs. Eglantyne 1 Episode: Death Takes a Curtain Call 1980 Matt and Jenny Martha Jane 1 Episode: A Woman's Place 1981 Tales of the Haunted Dody TV movie Titans Elizabeth I. 1 Episode: Elizabeth I. 1983 Pygmalion Mrs. Higgins TV movie 1985 The Hearst and Davies Affair Rose Duras TV movie 1986 Kay O'Brien Dr. Sarah McDonovan 1 Episode: Princess of the City 1987 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Edith Ferris 1 Episode: The Impatient Patient 1988 Liberace: Behind the Music Florence Bettray Kelly TV movie The Twilight Zone Laura Kincaid 1 Episode: Dream Me a Life Night Heat Marie 1 Episode: No Regrets Lonely Knights Maggie TV movie 1989 Glory! Glory! Velma TV movie 1990 E.N.G. Thelma 1 Episode: Division of Labour 1990–95 Avonlea Nanny Louisa Banks 3 episodes: The Journey Begins, Sara's Homecoming, Comings and Goings 1993 Survive the Night TV movie The Hidden Room Rita 1 Episode: After the Crash 1993–94 Street Legal Caroline Diamond 3 episodes: Thicker Than Water, Forgiveness, Persons Living or Dead 1994 Lonesome Dove Clementine Coffey 1 Episode: Duty Bound Broken Lullaby Maria TV movie Tales from the Cryptkeeper Aunt Melva 2 episodes: The Avenging Phantom/Myth Conceptions, The Haunted Mine Lives of Girls & Women Aunt Grace TV movie 1995 Due South Fraser's Grandmother 1 Episode: Letting Go When the Dark Man Calls Dr. Martha Petrie TV movie 1996 Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Catherine Cartwright 1 Episode: Reptilian Revenge/Ghostly Voices Moonlight Becomes You Nuala Moore TV movie 1997 A Prayer in the Dark Anna TV movie I'll Be Home for Christmas Thelma Jenkins TV movie

References

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