Ilona Rodgers
- Actress
After completing acting training at the Bristol Old Vic Drama School, blonde Ilona Rodgers began her career on stage in her native Yorkshire and at the Theatre Royal in Bath. She made her screen debut on British television in 1963 and came to early prominence with the pivotal role of Mary Graham, the sweetheart of young Martin Chuzzlewit (1964) in a BBC adaptation of the classic novel by Charles Dickens. Doctor Who (1963) producer Verity Lambert then picked her for the part of space explorer Carol Richmond for 'The Sensorites', followed by guest spots on The Avengers (1961) and The Saint (1962). She had a brief sojourn in America in the late 60s, culminating in a lead role opposite Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford in the middling action comedy Salt and Pepper (1968).
Upon her return to Britain, Rodgers appeared in Black Peter, an episode (now believed to be lost) of Sherlock Holmes (1964), starring Peter Cushing. After emigrating in 1973, she worked and resided at various times on both sides of the Tasman Sea. In New Zealand, she acted on stage with the Auckland Mercury Theatre and on screen in the period drama Hunter's Gold (1977), set during the 1860 gold rush. Her best known role came more than a decade later, as the wealthy, scheming editor of an Auckland high fashion magazine in Gloss (1987) (the series has been described as 'glitter soap', or as New Zealand's answer to Dynasty (1981)).
More recently, she was seen in a New Zealand revamping of Black Beauty and in the crime drama series Dirty Laundry (2016). In Australia, Rodgers has featured in the miniseries Sara Dane (1982) (for which she was awarded a Logie as Best Supporting Actress) and in Anzacs (1985), had a recurring role as one of the inmates in Prisoner (1979) (a fraudulent clairvoyant) and was a regular on the Aussie soap Sons and Daughters (1982). She has also portrayed two royals in the U.S. produced Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995), which was filmed in New Zealand.
Upon her return to Britain, Rodgers appeared in Black Peter, an episode (now believed to be lost) of Sherlock Holmes (1964), starring Peter Cushing. After emigrating in 1973, she worked and resided at various times on both sides of the Tasman Sea. In New Zealand, she acted on stage with the Auckland Mercury Theatre and on screen in the period drama Hunter's Gold (1977), set during the 1860 gold rush. Her best known role came more than a decade later, as the wealthy, scheming editor of an Auckland high fashion magazine in Gloss (1987) (the series has been described as 'glitter soap', or as New Zealand's answer to Dynasty (1981)).
More recently, she was seen in a New Zealand revamping of Black Beauty and in the crime drama series Dirty Laundry (2016). In Australia, Rodgers has featured in the miniseries Sara Dane (1982) (for which she was awarded a Logie as Best Supporting Actress) and in Anzacs (1985), had a recurring role as one of the inmates in Prisoner (1979) (a fraudulent clairvoyant) and was a regular on the Aussie soap Sons and Daughters (1982). She has also portrayed two royals in the U.S. produced Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995), which was filmed in New Zealand.
