Phyllis Logan

Phyllis Logan (born 11 January 1956)[1] is a Scottish actress, widely known for her roles as Lady Jane Felsham in Lovejoy (1986–1993) and Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey (2010–2015). She won the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for the 1983 film Another Time, Another Place. Her other film appearances include Secrets & Lies (1996), Shooting Fish (1997), Downton Abbey (2019) and Misbehaviour (2020).

Phyllis Logan
Logan at an event for Downton Abbey Cast and Creators, May 2014
Born (1956-01-11) 11 January 1956 (age 68)
Alma materRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (1977)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
Spouse
(m. 2011)
Children1

Early life edit

Logan's father, David, was a Rolls-Royce engineer and a trade-union leader and became the secretary of his local branch of the AUEW (Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers). Phyllis is the youngest in her family and has a brother and a sister. Her father died at the age of 59 while she was at drama school.[2]

Education edit

Logan was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire,[3] and grew up in nearby Johnstone,[4] where she was educated at Johnstone High School.[5] She studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and graduated with the James Bridie gold medal in 1977.[6][7]

Career edit

After graduation Logan joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre.[8] She left in 1979 to work on stage in Edinburgh. She also worked regularly on Scottish television. On the BBC Scotland production, The White Bird Passes, she first met writer-director Michael Radford. For his first feature film, Another Time, Another Place (1983), he cast Logan in the leading role of Janie, for which she won a Gold Award for Best Actress at the Taormina Film Festival and the Evening Standard Award for Best Actress in 1983 and the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1984.[9] She was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Before her success in Downton Abbey, where she played the housekeeper Mrs Hughes, Logan was widely known for the role of Lady Jane Felsham, co-starring with Ian McShane for eight years in nearly 50 episodes of Lovejoy, a comedy-drama for television.

Her character in Downton Abbey, Mrs Hughes, was voted the best Downton Abbey character of all times in a poll conducted by RadioTimes.com (the official website of Radio Times).[10]

She also starred in the 1996 Mike Leigh film Secrets & Lies alongside Timothy Spall and Brenda Blethyn. Logan provided the broadcast voice of Ingsoc in a film version of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) and the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) in the animated film Freddie as F.R.O.7 (1992). She was in the radio series Coming Alive and Baggage. She played Inspector Frost's love interest and eventual wife in If Dogs Run Free, the last story in the A Touch of Frost series.

Logan played Maggie Smart in The Good Karma Hospital[11] (7 episodes, 2017–2018) on the ITV drama series which was later made available on Acorn TV. She also starred in a main role as Linda Hutchinson in the ITV drama series Girlfriends which was created and directed by Kay Mellor, alongside Miranda Richardson and Zoë Wanamaker.[12][13]

In "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos", she played Andinio in the tenth episode in the eleventh series of Doctor Who.[14][15]

She starred in the second series of the British television series Guilt, which was shown on both BBC Two and BBC Scotland in 2021.[16] At the British Academy Scotland Awards 2022, Phyllis Logan won the award for Best Actress - Television for her performance as Maggie Lynch in Guilt.[17] She also starred in the third and final series which was released in April 2023, premiering on BBC Scotland on April 25, 2023.

In 2024 she also played Grace Bain in season 8 of the Scottish series Shetland.

Personal life edit

Logan married actor Kevin McNally, whom she met in the 1994 mini-series Love and Reason[citation needed], and has one child.[18] They live in Chiswick.[19][20]

She supports several charities that support the welfare of dementia patients[21][22][23] and is also a supporter of SSPCA.[24]

Filmography edit

Film edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Another Time, Another PlaceJanieBAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress
Rimini Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Taormina Film Fest Golden Mask Award
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated – David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress
1983Every Picture Tells a StoryAgnes Scott
1984The ChainAlison
1984Nineteen Eighty-FourTelescreen AnnouncerVoice
1984The DressJuliaShort Film
1985The Doctor and the DevilsElizabeth Rock
1987The InquiryClaudia Procula
1987The Kitchen TotoJanet Graham
1989The Legendary Life of Ernest HemingwayMary Welsh
1989The Angry EarthMary Penrys Jones
1990The Dark SunCamilla Staffa
1992Freddie as F.R.O.7.Nessie (voice)
1992Soft Top Hard ShoulderKarla
1993Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful LifeFrau BrunofskyShort film
1996Secrets & LiesMonica Purley
1997Shooting FishMrs. Ross
2003CrustBill's Girlfriend
2004Cheap Rate GravityElsieShort film
2004Out of the ShadowsLizShort film
2008The Hero's JourneyShort film
2009Nativity!Mrs. Lore
2012Day of the FlowersBrenda
2013BuoyShort film
2019Downton AbbeyElsie Hughes-Carson
2020MisbehaviourEvelyn Alexander
2020You Really Got MeOlder LindaShort film
2021The Last BusMary
2021Last Train to ChristmasAuntie Vi
2022Downton Abbey: A New EraElsie Hughes-Carson
2022Rocketry: The Nambi EffectMrs. Cleaver
2022Harold & MaryMaryShort film
2024No Way UpMardy 'Nana'
TBAUntitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequelElsie Hughes-CarsonFilming
TBABanking on Mr. ToadConstance SmedleyPre-production
TBASurprised by OxfordProvost Regina KnightFilming[25]

Television edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980ShoestringLindaEpisode: "Mocking Bird"
1980The White Bird Passes[26]Janie (age 16)TV film
1981Beginnings[27]NellTV film
1981Play for TodayNancy ParkEpisode: "The Good Time Girls"
1982Scotch and WryVariousEpisode: "Hogmanay 1982" [28] [29]
1985Time and the ConwaysKay ConwayTV film
1985Off PeakJanetTV film
19861994LovejoyLady Jane FelshamMain role (series 1–5), guest (season 6)
1986Screen TwoAnneEpisode: "The McGuffin"
1987First SightKathyEpisode: "Extras"
1987BustSheila WalshTV series
1987When Reason Sleeps: Out of Time[30][31]Helen WilmotTV film
1988HannayAlison RossEpisode: "Act of Riot"
1989Screen TwoAlisonEpisode: "Sitting Targets"
1989Screen TwoLeeEpisode: "Defrosting the Fridge"
1989And a Nightingale SangHelen StottTV film
1989GoldeneyeAnn FlemingTV film
1991Screen OneDoraEpisode: "Happy Feet"
1991Play on One [32]AndreaEpisode: "And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon"
1991Play on One [33]Dr Ruth KovacsEpisode: "Effie's Burning"
1993Love and ReasonLou LarsonTV miniseries
1993Silent CriesNancy MuirTV film
1995Kavanagh QCSamantha FisherEpisode: "A Family Affair"
1995The Big OneMrs. WildeTV film
1995ChillerAnna SpalinskyEpisode: "Here Comes the Mirror Man"
1996Pie in the SkyDet. Supt. ChalmersEpisode: "Coddled Eggs"
1996Inspector MorseJulia StevensEpisode: "The Daughters of Cain"
1997SceneAnnaEpisode: "Skinny Marink"
1997An Unsuitable Job for a WomanElizabeth LeamingEpisode: "Sacrifice"
1998The Game[34]Betty McCallumTV film
1998Invasion: EarthHelen KnoxTV miniseries
1999Holby CityMuriel McKendrickMain role (series 1)
1999Midsomer MurdersKate MerrillEpisode: "Strangler's Wood"
1999Rab C NesbittJenny WelthorpeEpisode: "Commons"
1999All the King's MenMary BeckTV film
1999HeartbeatJulia KendallEpisode: "Stag at Bay"
2000Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)Harriet Banks-SmithEpisode: "The Best Years of Your Death"
2000Hope and GloryAnnie GilbertMain role (series 3)
2001NCS: ManhuntAnne WarwickTV film
2002DickensGeorgina HogarthEpisode: "Terror to the End"
2002Fields of GoldRachel GreenlawTV film
2002The Real Jane AustenMrs. AustenTV film
2003The Inspector Lynley MysteriesMiriam WhitelawEpisode: "Playing for the Ashes"
2003Alibi[35]Linda BrentwoodTV film
2003Agatha Christie's PoirotNurse HopkinsEpisode: "Sad Cypress"
2004Dalziel and PascoeJenny EttrickEpisode: "A Game of Soldiers"
2004Murder in SuburbiaWendyEpisode: "Noisy Neighbours"
2004Silent WitnessHelen WhartonEpisodes: "Death by Water: Parts 1 & 2"
2005Beneath the SkinDCI Grace ShillingTV film
2005–06SpooksDiana JewellEpisodes: "4.8", "5.10"
2006MissingKaren FosterTV film
2006Sea of SoulsElaineEpisode: "Sleeper"
2006HeartbeatDiane BellEpisode: "Get Back"
2007Richard is My BoyfriendLauraTV film
2007Trial & RetributionAnna WildsmithEpisodes: "Curriculum Vitae: Parts 1 & 2"
2008HonestJennyEpisode: "1.4"
2008TaggartKathy MoffatEpisode: "Trust"
2008New TricksDr. MathiesonEpisode: "Mad Dogs"
2008The RoyalGeorge FawcettEpisode: "Pastures New"
2010Maid in BritainTV movie documentary
2010Silent WitnessJennifer MearsEpisodes: "Shadows: Parts 1 & 2"
2010HeartbeatRose BrownEpisode: "The War of the Roses"
2010WallanderInga WallanderEpisode: "The Fifth Woman"
2010A Touch of FrostChristine MoorheadEpisodes: "If Dogs Run Free: Parts 1 & 2"
2010, 2012Lip ServiceJudyEpisodes: "1.4", "2.2"
2010–2015Downton AbbeyElsie May Carson (Mrs. Hughes)Regular role
2012VeraShirleyEpisode: "A Certain Samaritan"
2014BonesSandra ZinsEpisode: "The Lost Love in the Foreign Land"
2017–18The Good Karma HospitalMaggie SmartMain role (series 1), guest (series 2)
2018GirlfriendsLinda HutchinsonMain role
2018Doctor WhoAndinioEpisode: "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos"
2019The Adventures of PaddingtonMrs. BirdVoice
2020Our Queen at War[36]NarratorTV movie documentary
2020The Highland Vet[37][38]NarratorTV documentary Series
2021IntergalacticPhoebe Skov-KingEpisode: 1.5
2021LadybabySheena Dunbar[39]
2021GuiltMaggie LynchSeries 2 and 3
TBAMiss AustenTBAIn-production[40]
TBALockerbieTBAFilming[41]

Radio appearances edit

  • Baggage[42][43] as Fiona
  • Coming Alive on BBC Radio 4[44]
  • BBC Radio Shakespeare: Macbeth (Dramatised) on BBC Radio 3 as Lady Macbeth[45]
  • R.L. Stevenson's Weir Of Hermiston on BBC Radio 4[46] as Kirstie
  • Classic BBC Radio Horror: Dracula on BBC Radio 4[47]
  • Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag' on BBC Radio 4[48]

Selected stage roles edit

YearTitleRoleTheatre
1980The Case of David Anderson Q. C.Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
1980ThreadsBernadetteHampstead Theatre
1983The Communication CordSusanHampstead Theatre
1993Marvin's Room[49]Lee Wakefield LackerHampstead Theatre and Comedy Theatre, London
1994Gaucho[50]Steph/StephanieHampstead Theatre
2002Richard IIIQueen ElizabethCrucible Theatre, Sheffield
20082000 Feet Away[51]NanBush Theatre
2016Present Laughter[52][53]Monica ReedRichmond Theatre
2018Switzerland[54]Patricia HighsmithAmbassadors Theatre, London and Theatre Royal, Bath

Awards and nominations edit

In addition to the role-related awards listed below, Logan is 2023 winner of the St Andrew's Society of New York's Mark Twain Award[55] in honor of her significant and positive impact on the Scots community around the world.[56]

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
1983Taormina Film FestGolden MaskAnother Time, Another PlaceWon
1984Rimini Film FestivalBest ActressAnother Time, Another PlaceWon
1984Evening Standard British Film AwardsBest ActressAnother Time, Another PlaceWon
1984British Academy Film AwardsBest ActressAnother Time, Another PlaceNominated
1984British Academy Film AwardsMost Outstanding Newcomer to FilmAnother Time, Another PlaceWon
1986David di Donatello AwardsBest Foreign ActressAnother Time, Another PlaceNominated
1991British Academy Television Awards - Scotland[57]Scotland - Actress in 1991The Play On One: And The Cow Jumped Over The MoonNominated
2012Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyWon
2013Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyWon
2014Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyNominated
2015Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyWon
2016Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyWon
2017Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesDownton AbbeyNominated
2022British Academy Scotland AwardsBest Actress - Television[58]GuiltWon

References edit

  1. ^ "Phyllis Logan". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  2. ^ Paton Maguire, Maureen (3 February 2017). "Phyllis Logan: 'I never confided in my parents. My generation didn't do that'". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "10 reasons why Paisley is already a city of culture". BBC News. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Video: Downton Abbey star from Refrewshire takes part in one-legged wobble challenge". Evening Times. Glasgow. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Renfrewshire Council – Education". The Scotsman. Scotland. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  6. ^ "My Scotland". Scotland in Trust: 23. OCLC 49921348.
  7. ^ "Celebration of Scotland's Treasures" (PDF). The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Press release). James Scott official site. 20 December 1984. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  9. ^ Shaw, Ann (1 August 1983). "Phyllis Logan Sets the Film World Buzzing". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  10. ^ Walker-Arnott, Ellie (28 September 2014). "Mrs Hughes is the best Downton Abbey character of all time". Archived from the original on 9 October 2020.
  11. ^ Whittle, Nathalie (8 February 2017). "Phyllis Logan: "I'd Be Terrible In A Medical Crisis!"". Woman & Home.
  12. ^ "Girlfriends is about women of a certain age, which is nice to be involved with, says Phyllis Logan". The Sunday Post. 2 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Downton's Phyllis Logan: Women are usually an 'appendage' on screen". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. 3 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Coming Soon, Series 11, Doctor Who – BBC One". BBC. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  15. ^ Willis, Ciaran. "Who is Doctor Who series finale guest star Phyllis Logan?". Radio Times.
  16. ^ "New cast confirmed for Guilt as filming begins on the second series of BBC Two and BBC Scotland's multi award-winning drama". BBC. 25 November 2020.
  17. ^ "BAFTA Scotland Awards 2022: Full List of Winners". BAFTA. 20 November 2022.
  18. ^ Scougall, Murray (23 June 2020). "Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan on a sequel, feminism protests, the struggle facing theatres, and her love of animals". The Sunday Post.
  19. ^ Lawrence, Janie (29 October 2012). "I'll stay in Downton Abbey as long as I can says Phyllis Logan". Daily Express. UK. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  20. ^ Gm, Level Magazine- (19 June 2020). "Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan's Lorraine interview interrupted by husband in his dressing gown". LEVEL MAGAZINE. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Jim Broadbent and Phyllis Logan feature in charity video about dementia carers". Evening Express (Scotland). 16 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Phyllis Logan's charity work with dementia". ITV.
  23. ^ "Downton Abbey star named as Scottish charity ambassador". The Scotsman. 30 March 2016.
  24. ^ "Scottish SPCA holds event backed by Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan". scottishspca.org. 12 March 2020.
  25. ^ Kay, Jeremy (15 October 2021). "UK shoot underway on romance 'Surprised By Oxford' (exclusive)". Screen Daily.
  26. ^ "The White Bird Passes (1980)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Beginnings (1981)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
  28. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. January 1983.
  29. ^ "Obituary: Rikki Fulton". the Guardian. 30 January 2004.
  30. ^ "Out of Time (1987)". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
  31. ^ "WHEN REASON SLEEPS: OUT OF TIME". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009.
  32. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 15 August 1991.
  33. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 29 August 1991.
  34. ^ "The Game (1998)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Alibi (2003)". IMDb.
  36. ^ "ITV Press Centre - Our Queen at War". ITV.
  37. ^ "Highland vets reveal life on the frontline in new documentary". The Press and Journal (Scotland). 14 June 2020.
  38. ^ "Broadcaster Jeremy Vine reveals he's a fan of The Highland Vet". The Northern Times. 26 June 2020.
  39. ^ "BBC Three - Ladybaby". BBC.
  40. ^ Rice, Lynette (7 December 2023). "'Miss Austen': Keeley Hawes & Rose Leslie Join TV Adaptation For Masterpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  41. ^ Szalai, Georg (5 March 2024). "'Suits' Star Patrick J. Adams, Connor Swindells, Merritt Wever Cast in Netflix, BBC Series 'Lockerbie'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  42. ^ "Baggage". comedy.co.uk.
  43. ^ Donaldson, Brian (29 November 2007). "Baggage". The List.
  44. ^ "Coming Alive". BBC.
  45. ^ "Drama on 3: Macbeth". BBC. 20 November 2005.
  46. ^ "R.L. Stevenson's Weir Of Hermiston". BBC.
  47. ^ "Bram Stoker's Dracula". BBC.
  48. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Doctor Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag". BBC.
  49. ^ "Scott McPherson - Other Works". IMDb.
  50. ^ Taylor, Paul (24 October 1994). "THEATRE / Sympathy for the devil: Gaucho - Hampstead Theatre". Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022.
  51. ^ Fisher, Philip. "2000 Feet Away - Anthony Weigh - Bush Theatre (2008)". British Theatre Guide.
  52. ^ "Present Laughter". 1 August 2016.
  53. ^ "Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan to lead glittering cast in Noel Coward's Present Laughter at Richmond Theatre". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. 6 July 2016.
  54. ^ "Switzerland starring Phyllis Logan to transfer to the West End". WhatsOnStage.com. 23 August 2018.
  55. ^ "267th Annual Banquet - Saint Andrew's Society of the State of NY". standrewsny.org. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  56. ^ Staff, NYSD (8 December 2023). "Mystery, Intrigue, and History | New York Social Diary". New York Social Diary. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  57. ^ "Scotland - Actress in 1991". BAFTA.
  58. ^ "BAFTA Scotland Awards 2022: Full List of Winners". BAFTA. 20 November 2022.

External links edit