Carolyn Seymour (born 6 November 1947) is an English actress, best known for playing Abby Grant in the BBC series Survivors (1975) and Queen Myrrah in the Gears of War franchise.

Career She was born Carolyn von Benckendorf in Buckinghamshire to an Estonian father of Russian descent and an Irish mother. One of her early television roles was as Jenny in the BBC drama series Take Three Girls, and an early film appearance was as Zita in the film Steptoe and Son (1972) alongside Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell. Her best-known movie role remains Grace Gurney in The Ruling Class (1972), opposite Peter O'Toole.

She left Survivors at the end of its first series due to disagreements with the producers over the direction the show and her character were taking. She appeared in the Space: 1999 episode "The Seance Spectre", and with Joan Collins in The Bitch (1979). She then moved to the United States and made numerous appearances on television shows, including Hart to Hart; Modesty Blaise; Family Ties; Cagney & Lacey; Remington Steele; Magnum, P.I.; The Twilight Zone; Murder, She Wrote; Matlock; Quantum Leap; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Civil Wars; L.A. Law; Red Shoe Diaries; Star Trek: Voyager; and ER.

She has contributed voice work for several Star Wars video games, playing characters such as Shmi Skywalker and Mon Mothma. She provides the voice for the Myrrah, Queen of the Locust Horde in Gears of War, Dr. Karin Chakwas in the Mass Effect series and the Elder God of Water in Mortal Kombat Annihilation. She has played in audio plays by L.A. Theatre Works and Hollywood Theater of the Ear as well as narrated audiobooks.

In 2014, she reprised the role of Abby Grant in Big Finish Productions' Survivors series, based on the book by Terry Nation and the television series. She has played various roles for the company, and in April 2021, it released a career retrospective interview with her titled Carolyn Seymour in Conversation.

Since 2014, she has voiced Bierce in Dark Deception.

Personal life Seymour married director Peter Medak in 1973. The couple had two children and divorced in 1984.Peter Medak profile, FilmReference.com; accessed 3 March 2015.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1971Unman, Wittering and ZigoSilvia EbonyGumshoeAlison1972Steptoe and SonZita SteptoeGrace Shelley1973Yellow DogDella1977Danica Rodriguez1978Angie1979Polly Logan1980Bad TimingLisa Dietrich1981Zorro, The Gay BladeDolores1983Mr. MomEve1990Midnight CabaretOrion1995CongoEleanor Romy1997Mortal Kombat AnnihilationElder God No. 22001AblazeVivian Sims2003I WitnessLady Anne2007Hard FourMaxine De Winter2008Dark StreetsGloriaLeilaShort2010Pamela WildeShort

Television Year Title Role Notes1971Take Three GirlsJennyMain role1971–1973ITV Sunday Night TheatreConnie Bell, Vicky2 episodes1972ITV PlayhouseAngela HarrisonEpisode: "The Greeks and Their Gifts"1974JusticeJoy MostynEpisode: "Matrimonial Malice"1975Christine SmithTV filmEdward the Seventh"Daisy," Lady Brooke/Lady WarwickEpisodes 9, "Scandal," and 10, "The Years of Waiting"SurvivorsAbby GrantMain role (series 1)1977Space: 1999EvaEpisode: "The Séance Spectre"1978Return of the SaintLady Greer StevensEpisode: "The Arrangement"1979HazellCaroline BancroftEpisode: "Hazell Gets the Bird"1981Mistress of ParadiseAdeleTV film1982Hart to HartCeleste DumontEpisode: "Vintage Harts"ElspethEpisode: "Love, Sin and Death at Point Dume"Modesty BlaiseDebbie DeFargeTV film1983Kris PetersonEpisode: "Heaven Is in Your Genes"LydiaTV filmFamily TiesLorraine FerrarEpisode: "Sweet Lorraine"Girls of the White OrchidMadame MoriTV film; alternative title Death Ride to Osaka1983–1984Cagney & LaceyRenata Myers, Marie-Chantal2 episodes1984Remington SteeleShelby HainesEpisode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Steel"Blue ThunderHelenEpisode: "The Island"1984–1985Magnum, P.I.Elizabeth, Lady Ashley, Leeann2 episodes1985OtherworldPrime ManagerEpisode: "Princess Metra"Alfred Hitchcock PresentsCarla DeanEpisode: "Wake Me When I'm Dead"MegaeraEpisode: "Ye Gods"1985–1986Tales from the DarksideAisha Candisha, Andrea Caldwell2 episodes1986–1989MatlockChristina Harrison Ward, Vanessa Sedgwick, Iris Vogel3 episodes1986Adam's AppleD.A. Trisha HammondTV film1987Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton StoryDorothy DifrassoTV film1987–1995Murder, She WrotePauline Constable, Alice Montrose, Nellie Ruddy3 episodes1988CBS Summer PlayhouseCeliaEpisode: "Old Money"1989Living DollsMrs. TateEpisode: "Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner"1989–1993Star Trek: The Next GenerationSubcommander Taris, Mirasta Yale, Commander Toreth3 episodes: "Contagion", "First Contact", "Face of the Enemy"Quantum LeapPriscilla Stoltz, Zoey4 episodes1990Blue BayouRaleigh McMainTV filmFather Dowling MysteriesNurse EuniceEpisode: "The Medical Mystery"1991Jocelyn WellerEpisode: "Done with Mirrors"Over My Dead BodyDiane BeckettEpisode: "An Actor Prepares"1992Civil WarsBettina Peck-NaughtonEpisode: "Tape Fear"Dark JusticeMichelleEpisode: "Needy Things"1993MoiraVoice, episode: "The Princess Aleta"Jack's PlaceMaggieEpisode: "Forever and Ever"Class of '96Anna HorvathEpisode: "Parents Weekend"1994L.A. LawVivian Askoff2 episodesRebel HighwayMrs. Evelyn TurnbullEpisode: "Reform School Girl"1995Silk StalkingsSarah RowanEpisode: "Friendly Persuasion"Star Trek: VoyagerMrs. Templeton2 episodes1996SarahVoice, episode: "The Spectre of the Pine Barrens"1997Babylon 5Sen. CrosbyEpisode: "Endgame"1998Superman: The Animated SeriesKala In-ZeVoice, episode: "Little Girl Lost"2001ERDr. SkoftEpisode: "The Longer You Stay"2002Still StandingBeverly GerberEpisode: "Still Scalping"2004Judging AmyAtty. Marla RosenEpisode: "My Little Runaway"2005Malcolm in the MiddleNinaEpisode: "Mrs. Tri-County"2007Agent BVoice, episode: "London Calling"

Video games Year Title Role Notes1999Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom MenaceConcerned Mother, Shmi Skywalker, TC-14Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the DamnedEstelle StilesRevenantHeather, Townswomen Indiana Jones and the Infernal MachineBabylonian Holy WomanStar Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure BookShmi Skywalker, Jellyfish2000Star Wars: Force CommanderAT-AT Barge Pilot, ATC-Frigate, Heavy Lifter Pilot2001Star Wars: Galactic BattlegroundsEmpire Destroyer Captain, Gungan Medic, Starbomer Pilot2002Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi OutcastMon MothmaSummoner 2Dama Sivora2003Armed and DangerousPeasant Woman 1Star Wars: Knights of the Old RepublicAdmiral Forn Dodonna, Helena Shan, Elora2004Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith LordsAdministrator Terena Adare, Iziz Citizen, Republic Captain2005Agatha Christie: And Then There Were NoneEmily Brent, Ethel Rogers 2006Star Wars: Empire at WarMon MothmaAgatha Christie: Murder on the Orient ExpressPrincess DragomiroffGears of WarQueen Myrrah2007Mass EffectDr. Karin Chakwas2008Gears of War 2Queen Myrrah2009Dragon Age: OriginsKeeper Marethari, Sister Theohild, Grand Cleric Elemena, Sister Augustine, Edwina, Agatha, Redcliffe Old Woman, Circle Tower Mage2010Mass Effect 2Dr. Karin Chakwas2011Gears of War 3Queen Myrrah2012Mass Effect 3Dr. Karin Chakwas, Teresa2013Gears of War: JudgmentQueen Myrrah2018Dark DeceptionHelen Bierce2019Gears 5Queen Myrrah2020Dark Deception: Monsters and MortalsHelen Bierce

References

External links

Interview with Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant) for Survivors (1975 TV series)