Jean Gilpin (born 9 August 1950) is a British actress who has appeared in over 200 film, television, and video game projects. Primarily known for her extensive career in voice acting and ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), she has voiced major characters in high-profile franchises such as The Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, Age of Mythology, and Final Fantasy.
Early life Born in London, Gilpin grew up in a bicultural environment because of her father's career. Her father worked for the United Nations and she thus lived in various locations while growing up, such as China, Cuba, France, Switzerland, Thailand, the Congo, the U.S. (specifically New York City), and Zambia. She attended schools in England, France, Switzerland, and Thailand. She gained a BA in Drama and English from Bristol University before training at the Drama Centre London.
Career Gilpin first made some brief appearances in BBC Bristol productions as a student in the Bristol University Drama Department. Her first professional theatrical job was a season with the Nottingham Playhouse Company where she received her Equity card. She spent three years at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre, playing principal boy in their traditional pantomimes, and performing in Noël Coward's Semi-Monde directed by Philip Prowse.
Gilpin spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She played the Duchess of Vanholt in Faustus with Ian McKellen, directed by John Barton. Her first credited appearance on British television was in the role of Julia in The Duchess of Malfi for the BBC. She's also Janet Milton (the found Mum of John) in the episode Reunion, third season of Survivors.
Gilpin is perhaps best known to British television audiences as Sylvia, a precocious Auxiliary Territorial Service member, the niece of Chief Warden Hodges, who attempts unsuccessfully to seduce Private Pike in "The Making of Private Pike" (first broadcast 9 October 1977) in the final series of Dad's Army. Gilpin also won supporting roles in several British films of the 1970s including Catch Me a Spy (1971), Feelings (1974), The Stud (1978) and The World Is Full of Married Men (1979). She also featured in several British television commercials, notably as The Avon Lady.
After ten years working in British theatre and television, Gilpin moved to Los Angeles. Her first role there was in Anne Sexton's Transformations at the Coronet Theatre. She also began to take roles in television and film. She performed in Steven Berkoff's Greek at the Matrix Theatre and the ensemble won the BATCC Award. She co-produced and appeared in the LA premiere of Jean Reynolds' Dance With Me, which was nominated for an LADCC for ensemble.
Since the 1980s, Gilpin has mainly worked as a voice actress on more than 200 projects. She worked regularly on Max Steel. More recently, she has featured as a voice actor in video games, including Neverwinter Nights and James Bond 007: Nightfire. In particular, she has worked regularly for Bethesda Softworks, and can be heard in such games as The Elder Scrolls Online and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as Elenwen, Boethiah, and Meridia. One of her best known roles is Knight Commander Meredith in Dragon Age II, Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars, in King's Quest as Pillare and Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn in the English version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, credited as Jean Elizabeth. She also voiced Sangheili character Makhee 'Chava in Halo 5: Guardians and voiced Amanra in Age of Mythology and its sequels.
Gilpin voiced a computer called Stacie in the film Nuclear Hurricane in 2007. She also voiced Mother Helen and various characters in 2011's Dead Island, credited as Elizabeth Gilpin, and voiced The Mother in Dying Light: The Following in 2016. She provided a vocal cameo in the 2021 film Dune as an Ancestral Bene Gesserit.
Filmography Television series YearTitleRoleNotes 1972 Stage 2 Julia Episode: The Duchess of Malfi 1973 Wessex Tales Mrs. Sarah Drenkard Episode: Barbara of the House Grebe1976 Softly, Softly: Task Force Terrorist Episode: There's Always Tomorrow Angels Deborah Harper Episode: Babes in the Woods1977 Survivors Janet Millon Episode: Reunion Z-Cars Marie Episode: Skeletons Dad's Army Sylvia Episode: The Making of Private Pike1978 Come Back Mrs. Noah The Technician Episode: The Housing Problem Premiere Attendant Episode: Something's Wrong Tycoon Helena Episode: Out of the Speaking Dark The Professionals Debra Episode: First Night Play for Today Sandra Episode: Return Fare 1979 The Omega Factor Sarah Ashley Episode: St. Anthony's Fire 1981 Quincy, M.E. Mrs. Eddington Episode: By Their Faith 2016 Dying Light The Mother 2 episodes 2017 Legion Color Lady / Hat Lady Episode: Chapter 1 2018 Saluting Dad's Army Herself S1. Episode: 4 2023 Candis Cayne's Secret Garden Poppy Seeds Episode: I Have a Secret
Anime series + List of dubbing performances in anime series Year Title Role Notes 1991 3×3 Eyes Ms. Wong / Newscaster English version
Animation + List of voice performances in animation Year Title Role(s) Notes 2000 Max Steel Scientist / Civilians Episode: Shadows 2017 Dragons: Race to the Edge Season 4 Dragon Trainer / Village people Episode: Dire Straites 2018 Dragons: Race to the Edge Season 7 Lady / Crowds lady Episode: No Bark, All Bite 2022 Dragon Age: Absolution Meredith Stannard Episode: The Price of Salvation 2024–2025 Blood of Zeus Gaia 8 episodes
Film +List of voice performances in direct-to-video and television filmsYearTitleRole Notes1971 To Catch a Spy Ground Stewardess1974 Feelings Receptionist Base on Feelings1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Lady at Ball1978 The Stud Nika1979 The World Is Full of Married Men Miss Field The Bitch Party Lady1980 The Scarlett O'Hara War Margeret Sullivan1981 Nighthawks Cop lady / Metropolitan Museum of Art Lady / Party ladies 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Valley's lady / Child's mother Additional voices1985 Police Story Sergeant / Operator / Town civilians English dub1988 Outlaw of Gor Shop Lady Additional voices1990 Flashback Elizabeth Three Men and a Little Lady Jean Voice1991 Armour of God II: Operation Condor Hotel receptionist Additional voices1992 The Muppet Christmas Carol Puppet / Customer / Children Voice Aladdin Agrabah citizens / Maid / Crowd ladies / Beautiful girls Voice1996 First Strike Australian Group Lady English version Independence Day New York citizens / Soldiers / Lady Additional voices Jingle All the Way Christmas celebrating lady / Shop worker Voices1997 Zeus and Roxanne Neighbor lady Mr. Nice Guy Announcement lady English dub1998 Quest for Camelot Camelot civilians Additional voices Godzilla Students / Computer voice Voices1999 That Marino Thing The Therapist Short Diplomatic Siege Embassy Lady2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Lady in car2001 Cats & Dogs Factory worker Shrek Fairies / Duloc civilians / Fairy-tale creatures Additional voices Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Researcher2003 Atlantis: Milo's Return Inger Allyson Just Married Hotel lady2004 EuroTrip Bus stop lady The Chronicles of Riddick Hooded lady Additional voices2005 Lincoln's Eyes Lady Short2006 Eragon Magician Additional voices The Omen Kid's mother Flushed Away Rats / Rita's siblings Additional voices A Good Year Cafe Lady / London lady Additional voices Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Animals / London people / Park lady Additional voices2007 The Seeker Warrior Nuclear Hurricane Staci Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Civilians Additional voices2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still Alien Voice2010 Shrek Forever After Witches Additional voices Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon Villager lady Additional voices2011 Rio Rio's civilians / Rio Carnival parade ladies Additional voices Fatboy Mother Short Your Highness Maiden Voices Monte Carlo Hotel customer The Mischievous Case of Cordeelia Botkin The Narrator Short2012 Chronicle High School Teacher Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Casino Lady / Casino workers / Circus crowds Additional voices Life of Pi Indian teacher 2013 Runner Runner Police 47 Ronin Warrior English dub The East Agent Frozen Arendelle's people / Arendelle's lady Additional voices2014 How to Train Your Dragon 2 Dragons / Village women / Crowds Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Female Apes / Survivor X-Men: Days of Future Past Civilians / Lady Additional voices Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Archaeologist Postman Pat: The Movie Miss Hubbard / Crowd Lady / Pat Wannabe 3 The Fault in Our Stars Nurse / Doctor / ER Nurse Additional voices2015 The Last Witch Hunter Witches voice / Airplane passenger2016 Now You See Me 2 Women in crowd The House Guest Womba Short Trolls Troll Additional voices2017 The Mountain Between Us Airport Lady Additional voices Magik Randy Randy's Mother Short2018 Aquaman Villager / Store Keeper Voices Incredibles 2 Citizens / Fleeing lady / Scared girl Additional voices2019 Dark Phoenix City lady Voice Detective Pikachu Lady Additional voices How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Villagers / Dragons Missing Link Old Worlder2020 The Call of the Wild Passerby Additional voices2021 Validation Mrs. Trafecante Short Dune Bene Gesserit Ancestors Voice2022 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Mrs. House Voice2023 The Nun II Nun Voice
Podcast series + List of voice performances in podcast Year Title Role(s) Notes 2009 William Nicholson: Shadowlands Registrar Voice2018 Lady Windermere's Fan: The Radio Play Lady Jedburgh Voice
Video games