Susan George (actress)
English actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Susan Melody George (born 26 July 1950) is an English film and television actress. She is best known for appearing in films such as Straw Dogs (1971) with Dustin Hoffman, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) with Peter Fonda and Mandingo (1975) with Ken Norton.[1]
Susan George | |
|---|---|
George in 2025 | |
| Born | Susan Melody George 26 July 1950 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse | |
| Website | https://susangeorge.co.uk/ |
In the early and mid 1970s, George played provocative, sometimes controversial roles (such as Amy Sumner in Straw Dogs, and Blanche Maxwell in Mandingo) and became typecast. Cinema writer Leslie Halliwell described her as a "British leading lady, former child actress; usually typed as sexpot".[2]
Her lighter side was apparent in some of her TV appearances, such as in an episode ("The Gold Napoleon") of The Persuaders (1971) with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. In 1988, George marked her film-producing debut with Stealing Heaven.
Also on TV, George played the role of Vicky Duncan in "Czech Mate", an acclaimed episode of Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984).
Early life
She was born in Surbiton,[3] Surrey, to Billie and Norman George, with sister, Pamela Anne George. She recalled spending many holidays at the caravan park in Font-y-Gary in South Wales as a child.[4] She trained at the Corona Theatre School and has acted since the age of four.[citation needed]
Career
She appeared in The Dickie Henderson Show in 1962 and started working steadily on television in shows such as ITV Television Playhouse, Swallows and Amazons and Weavers Green.
George had small roles in films such as The Sorcerers (1967) and Up the Junction (1968).
British stardom
George starred opposite Michael York in The Strange Affair (1968). She starred in All Neat in Black Stockings (1969) then the lead and starring role in Lola (also known as Twinky) in 1969 with Charles Bronson. Other starring roles include: Spring and Port Wine (1970) with James Mason, Eyewitness (1970) with director John Hough, Die Screaming, Marianne (1971) and Fright (1971) for director Peter Collinson. A number of her early films were made for EMI Films.[5]
George's international breakthrough was starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs (1971) a huge box office hit.[6] When asked in a 2013 interview about working with Hoffman and director Sam Peckinpah in Straw Dogs, George said:
I had a love-hate relationship with Sam, but he was a brilliant director and a genius of his time. Dustin was a generous actor to work with, who could be intense at times, but had a great personality and an incredibly mischievous sense of humour. Making the film was a fantastic experience and one that I cherish to this day.[7]
George went to Europe to appear in Sonny and Jed (1972).
US career
George received an offer to star in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) for director John Hough, which was a big hit. Also popular was Mandingo (1975).
Less seen were Out of Season (1975), A Small Town in Texas (1976), Tintorera (1977) and Tomorrow Never Comes (1978).
George guest starred on television and was in Enter the Ninja (1981), Venom (1981), The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)
Later career
George moved into producing and later returned to England.
Personal life
Susan George was married to Simon MacCorkindale from 1984 until his death in 2010.[8] They did not have any children.[9]
Before her relationship with MacCorkindale began in 1982, she had a four-year relationship with American singer Jack Jones from 1972–1976,[10] and spent another four years as the partner of casino manager Derek Webster from 1977–1981.[11] [12]
George breeds Arabian horses and has a stud farm called Georgian Arabians.[13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Cup Fever | Vicky Davis | |
| 1966 | Davy Jones' Locker | Susan Haddock | |
| 1967 | The Sorcerers | Audrey | |
| Billion Dollar Brain | Russian girl on train | (Uncredited) | |
| 1968 | Up the Junction | Joyce | |
| The Strange Affair | 'Fred' March | ||
| 1969 | All Neat in Black Stockings | Jill | |
| Twinky | Twinky | ||
| 1970 | The Looking Glass War | Susan | |
| Spring and Port Wine | Hilda Crompton | ||
| Eyewitness | Pippa | ||
| 1971 | Die Screaming, Marianne | Marianne | |
| Fright | Amanda | ||
| Straw Dogs | Amy Sumner | ||
| 1972 | Sonny and Jed | Sonny Lester Trigado | |
| 1974 | Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry | Mary Coombs | |
| 1975 | Mandingo | Blanche Maxwell | |
| Out of Season | Joanna | ||
| 1976 | A Small Town in Texas | Mary Lee Carter | |
| 1977 | Tintorera | Gabriella | |
| 1978 | Tomorrow Never Comes | Janie | |
| 1981 | Enter the Ninja | Mary Ann | |
| Venom | Louise Andrews | ||
| 1982 | The House Where Evil Dwells | Laura Fletcher | |
| Kiss My Grits | Baby | ||
| 1983 | The Jigsaw Man | Penelope Kimberley | |
| 1986 | Lightning, the White Stallion | Madame Rene | |
| 1989 | That Summer of White Roses | Ana | |
| 2008 | In Your Dreams | Barbara Wood-Ross | |
| 2009 | City of Life | Constance | |
| 2014 | Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's Nest | Mrs. Ada Booth | |
| 2023 | 1066 | Queen Emma |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | ITV Television Playhouse | Jane/Jenny Warren | 2 episode |
| Swallows and Amazons | Kitty Walker | Miniseries | |
| 1965 | The Human Jungle | Gina McCutcheon | Episode: "Heartbeats in a Tin Box" |
| 1966 | Weavers Green | Barbara Fielding | Episode: #1.25 |
| 1967 | Armchair Theatre | Shop Girl | Episode: "Compensation Alice" |
| 1967-8 | Theatre 625 | Young Barbara/Angela Buck | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | Mystery and Imagination | Lucy Weston | Episode: "Dracula" |
| 1970 | Doctor in the House | Jenny | Episode: "May The Best Man..." |
| 1970 | Tales of Unease | Sarah Stone | Episode: "Ride, Ride" |
| 1971 | The Persuaders! | Michelle Devigne | Episode: "The Gold Napoleon" |
| 1973 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Anne | TV film |
| 1979-80 | Tales of the Unexpected | Mary Marney/Mabel Taylor | 2 episodes |
| 1982 | Computercide | Lisa Korter | TV film |
| 1983 | Pajama Tops | Mrs. Chavinet | |
| 1984 | Masquerade | Megan | Episode: "The Defector" |
| Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Vicky Duncan | Episode: "Czech Mate" | |
| 1986 | Hotel | Barbara Fremont | Episode: "Hearts Divided" |
| Blacke's Magic | Maggie | Episode: "Wax Poetic" | |
| This Is Your Life | (self) | Episode: "Susan George" | |
| 1988 | Jack the Ripper | Catherine Eddowes | Miniseries |
| 1990 | The Castle of Adventure | Allie Mannering | All 8 episodes |
| 1990 | Counterstrike | Annette Morley | Episode: "Dealbreaker" |
| 1992 | Cluedo | Mrs. Peacock | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | Stay Lucky | Samantha Mansfield | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Tales of Mystery and Imagination | Betty Wilson | Episode: "The Black Cat" |
| The House That Mary Bought | Mary Close | TV film | |
| 2001 | EastEnders | Margaret Walker | 25 episodes |
| 2026 | Beyond Paradise | Mary Rhodes | Series 4 Episode 4 |
As executive producer
- Stealing Heaven (1988)
- That Summer of White Roses (1989)
- The House That Mary Bought (1995) (TV)
As miscellaneous crew
- Jackie Brown (1997) ('very special thanks')
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 10th Saturn Awards | Best Actress | The House Where Evil Dwells | Nominated |
