Judy Matheson is a British actress notable for her appearances in several horror films in the 1970s. She also appeared in many other films and television series.
Career Raised in Essex and trained at the New College of Speech and Drama, Matheson began her career in 1967 with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company with which she toured the United States, including a season on Broadway, and Canada, followed by Europe and Israel, in three of Shakespeare's plays, the highlight of which was Sir Tyrone Guthrie's production of Measure for Measure.
In 1967, Matheson signed with talent agency Hazel Malone Management. Her debut film The Chairman (The Most Dangerous Man in the World), starred Gregory Peck. She was chosen to star in the Spanish film The Exquisite Cadaver (Las Crueles) with Capucine, directed by Vicente Aranda, in 1969, which was showcased as the Spanish entry at the San Sebastian Film Festival. In 1970, she was invited to play Helen Mirren's friend in John Goldschmidt's documentary Doing Her Own Thing about Mirren's early years at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 1971 she starred opposite Freddie Jones in Charles Wood's experimental drama The Emergence of Anthony Purdy, Esq. directed by Patrick Dromgoole for Harlech Television. It was chosen that year as ITV's entry in the Monte Carlo TV Festival. In the 1970s, she appeared in the Hammer Horror films Lust for a Vampire and Twins of Evil. Her other films include The Flesh and Blood Show, The House That Vanished (also known as Scream and Die), Crucible of Terror, Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Percy's Progress.
Matheson's television work includes City '68, Spindoe, Coronation Street, Z-Cars (twice, leading female), Crossroads, (Hugh Mortimer's secretary and Sandy's girlfriend), Harriet's Back in Town, The Adventurer, Dead of Night, The Professionals, The Sweeney, Shelley (BBC film of the poet, opposite Robert Powell and directed by Alan Bridges), Blake's 7 and Citizen Smith.
Matheson's theatre work includes two national tours of Marc Camoletti's Boeing-Boeing.https://theatricalia.com/play/4e2/boeing-boeing/production/11ht She also starred in Funny Peculiar at the Gateway Theatre, Chester.https://theatricalia.com/play/53q/funny-peculiar/production/13dq
In February 1979, she starred in a production of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.https://theatricalia.com/play/50y/bedroom-farce/production/1jds
She undertook the narration for "Mary Millington on Location", part of the special features for the Mary Millington box set released by Screenbound Entertainment in 2020.
In 2021, Matheson played Sir Tony Robinson's wife in a short film Joe's Journey, written by Tony Husband, to raise awareness of dementia, which both Robinson's and Husband's fathers had suffered from.
Selected credits Film Year Title Role Notes1969 The Chairman Student Uncredited The Exquisite Cadaver Esther 1971 Lust for a Vampire Amanda McBride Twins of Evil Woodman's Daughter Crucible of Terror Marcia 1972 The Flesh and Blood Show Jane 1973 The House That Vanished Lorna Collins 1974 Confessions of a Window Cleaner Elvie Percy's Progress Maria 1976 High as a Kite Girl 2017 Frankula Vera Vomit Short film2019 Vampirella Narrator Voice2021 Joe's Journey Joe's wife Short film2024 Dragon Madame Drakaina Short film2025 A Working Man Elegant Diner Uncredited
Television Year Title Role Notes1967 City '68 Len's girlfriend Episode: "The Shooting War"1968 Spindoe Maid 2 episodes B-And-B Preta Episode: "Come to the Aid of the Party"1969 Coronation Street Nurse Episode: "#1.924"1970 The Emergence of Anthony Purdy, Esq. Phillipa TV film1972 Shelley Jane Williams Dead of Night Tessa Episode: "Two in the Morning"1973 The Adventurer Claire Adams Episode: "Full Fathom Five" Harriet's Back in Town Sarah Chivers 4 episodes1976 Z-Cars Terri Episode: "The Frighteners" The Sweeney Kibber's Girlfriend Episode: "Selected Target"1977 Crossroads Vicky Lambert 13 episodes1978 The Professionals Mandy Mitchell Episode: "Long Shot" Z-Cars Miss Andrews Episode: "Rummage"1979 Citizen Smith Caroline Episode: "The Party's Over"1980 Blake's 7 Mutoid Episode: "Volcano"2020 Bruised Sky Judy Episode: "Spy" The Haunting of Margam Castle Agatha TV film2021 The Lives of Frankie Abbot Grace Both episodes What Did You Do in the War, Mama? Mrs Lloyd George TV film2024 Saucy! Secrets of The British Sex Comedy Herself Interviewee
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