Frances Hyland


Frances Hyland was a Canadian stage, film and television actress.
In 1964, Hyland was in the CBC's drama series, "Festival," and she was one of the first actresses in Canada to achieve this career objective.  She starred in many movies, television shows, and famous plays, which in turn, was a major accomplishment for a Canadian woman during this time. Not only did Hyland act in a variety of media, her roles were also vastly different. While acting in film, she played a farmer's wife who aged from 30 to 60 over the course of the movie. In "Festival" she played a Salvation Army officer whose life became complicated by love, and on the stage she played the queen of Egypt.
Hyland studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, making her professional debut in London as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, opposite John Gielgud. In 1954, she returned to Canada, becoming a regular at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. Her roles there included Isabella, Portia, Olivia, Perdita, Desdemona and Ophelia in. She appeared in movies such as The Changeling, The Hounds of Notre Dame, Happy Birthday to Me, The Lotus Eaters and Never Talk to Strangers, and on television, including a role on Road to Avonlea.
Hyland was considered to be one of the highest-ranked Shakespearean actresses of her time. In Canada, she and her close friend, Kate Reid, were acknowledged to be two of the greatest actresses, as stated by Weekend Magazine.
Along with being a well-established actress, Hyland has also co-starred with many actors who have gone on to find fame in the USA, such as Christopher Plummer and Robert Goulet. However, as stated earlier, Hyland remained in Canada, even though it was harder for actresses to succeed. She was often questioned as to why she decided to stay in Canada, because other countries held greater career opportunities for her.

Personal life and awards

Hyland was born in 1927 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, a small town south-west of Swift Current, to Jessie, a teacher, and Thomas Hyland, a salesman. She lived there until her parents divorced when she was one year old. She was raised by her mother's family in Ogema, Saskatchewan. When she was seven, she moved to Regina when her parents tried, and failed, to save their marriage. She had no relationship with her father after 1937.
Her mother put herself through teacher's college to support her daughter's acting career. Hyland's dreams were clouded because her family did not have a great deal of money, thus she was unable to get an adequate education. Nevertheless, she always believed that she could achieve her dreams.
Frances Hyland graduated in 1948 from the University of Saskatchewan with a BA in English. After graduating, she returned to the school to work as an assistant for their drama department. Her professor, Emrys Jones, offered her scholarships which allowed her to perform in London.
While in London, she could envision her dreams of becoming an actress, however while in Canada she often questioned her abilities and future on the stage. There were not as many job opportunities for her in Canada as there were when she travelled to London, New York or other well-known cities. She also stated in an interview with Weekend Magazine that her self-esteem was at risk while working in Canada.
Despite her ambitions to work in London or New York, Hyland stayed in Canada because she fell in love with George McCowan, a fellow Canadian actor and director. They had a son, Evan, in 1957. Unfortunately, the couple separated shortly after.
Her decision to reside in Canada caused her financial income to suffer due to the doubled income that imported London actresses earned.
In 1970, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1994, Hyland received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for her lifetime contribution to Canadian theatre.
Hyland was described as sensible, modest, and honest with herself and others.

Filmography

Movies

YearTitleRoleNotes
1963DrylandersLiza
1966Each Day That ComesShort
1972Another Smith for ParadiseMarie Smith
1980The ChangelingMrs. Grey
1980The Hounds of Notre DameMother Therese
1981Happy Birthday to MeMrs. Patterson
1983The SightShort
1993The Lotus EatersFlora Kingswood
1995Never Talk to StrangersMrs. Slotnick

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1950-54Sunday Night TheatreMegan Owen / Sonia / Penelope Blessington4 Episodes: Deep Are the Roots, Adam's Apple, Crime and Punishment, The Gift
1955Scope1 Episode: Prelude to Marriage
1955On Camera1 Episode: The Queen's Ring
1955-61EncounterNellie / Shevawn Flaherty / Melissa Turner6 Episodes
1957Twelfth NightLady OliviaTV Movie
1957-59FolioZuzushka / Mariana / Frances3 Episodes: Proud Passage, The Master of Santiago, Ivanov
1958Till Death Do Us Part1 Episode: Panic at Parth Bay
1959Hudson's BaySusan Murray1 Episode: Bosom Friends
1959-60The UnforeseenMartha3 Episodes: The Storm, The Wreath, Desire
1959-60R.C.M.P.Lucy Dodds / Mrs.Phillips2 Episodes: The Replacement, The Hunt
1960SuspenseEthel1 Episode: Love Story
1960StartimeMiss Miller / Catherine Stockmann2 Episodes: An Enemy of the People, An Enemy of the People
1960-62FestivalMargot / Duchess / Olga5 Episodes
1962First Person1 Episode: My Home Is Here
1962Salt of the EarthTV Movie
1961-62PlaydateEthel / Nellie Bancroft / Alice3 Episodes: The Salt of the Earth, The Vigilante, Love Story 1910
1967The Mystery Maker1 Episode
1973-80The BeachcombersSadie4 Episodes: Sadie, Keep Your Shirt On, The Sasquatch Walks by Night, Sadie is a Lady
1974The Naked Mind1 Episode
1978Home to StayAunt MarthaTV Movie
1979The AlbertansMarjanne HardinTV Movie
1979The Great DetectiveMrs. Eglantyne1 Episode: Death Takes a Curtain Call
1980Matt and JennyMartha Jane1 Episode: A Woman's Place
1981Tales of the HauntedDodyTV Movie
1981TitansElizabeth I.1 Episode: Elizabeth I.
1983PygmalionMrs. HigginsTV Movie
1985The Hearst and Davies AffairRose DurasTV Movie
1986Kay O'BrienDr. Sarah McDonovan1 Episode: Princess of the City
1987Alfred Hitchcock PresentsEdith Ferris1 Episode: The Impatient Patient
1988'Florence Bettray KellyTV Movie
1988The Twilight ZoneLaura Kincaid1 Episode: Dream Me a Life
1988Night HeatMarie1 Episode: No Regrets
1988Lonely KnightsMaggieTV Movie
1989Glory! Glory!VelmaTV Movie
1990E.N.G.Thelma1 Episode: Division of Labour
1990-95AvonleaNanny Louisa Banks3 Episodes: The Journey Begins, Sara's Homecoming, Comings and Goings
1993Survive the NightTV Movie
1993The Hidden RoomRita1 Episode: After the Crash
1993-94Street LegalCaroline Diamond3 Episodes: Thicker Than Water, Forgiveness, Persons Living or Dead
1994Lonesome DoveClementine Coffey1 Episode: Duty Bound
1994Broken LullabyMariaTV Movie
1994Tales from the CryptkeeperAunt Melva2 Episodes: The Avenging Phantom/Myth Conceptions, The Haunted Mine
1994Lives of Girls & WomenAunt GraceTV Movie
1995Due SouthFraser's Grandmother1 Episode: Letting Go
1995When the Dark Man CallsDr. Martha PetrieTV Movie
1996'Catherine Cartwright1 Episode: Reptilian Revenge/Ghostly Voices
1997A Prayer in the DarkAnnaTV Movie
1997I'll Be Home for ChristmasThelma JenkinsTV Movie
1996Moonlight Becomes YouNuala MooreTV Movie