Lia Williams

Lia Williams (born 26 November 1964 in England) is an award winning English actress, notable for many stage, film, and television appearances. She is married to writer/producer Guy Hibbert, with whom she occasionally collaborates. The pair also run their own production company, Tilting Ground Productions.

Life and early career

Williams trained at the Arts Educational School in Hertfordshire and then the London Studio Centre. After graduating, Williams worked briefly as a can-can dancer in Benidorm, and then as a stand-up comedienne before making her stage debut in the comedy, "Daisy Pulls it Off" at Southampton's Nuffield Theatre, which moved to London's Geilgud Theatre in 1983.

Theatre

An accomplished stage actress, Williams breakthrough performance came in 1991 when she was awarded the London Critics Circle Most Promising Newcomer Award for her performance in The Revengers' Comedies. In 1993, she created the role of ball-breaking student Carol in the London production of David Mamet's Oleanna. In 1997, Williams appeared in London's West End and on Broadway in David Hare's Skylight. Her performance earned her a Best Actress Tony Award nomination. In 2001, Williams appeared again in London's West End and on Broadway in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming. The actress Lauren Bacall attended all 3 of William's New York performances.

Other recent theatre performances include Mappa Mundi for the English National Theatre (2002), Rosalind in As You Like it for the RSC (2005),The Hothouse for the English National Theatre (2007), Alan Ayckbourne's Absurd Person Singular (2007) and role of Ellida in Henryk Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea (2008).

Film and television roles

In 1993, Williams made her film debut in the lead role of Bella in Michael Winner's infamous Dirty Weekend, although she later campaigned against the film when she saw the final edit. The film was not a critical or commercial success. Subsequent film appearances have included Different for Girls (1996), Firelight (1997), The Fifth Province (1997), The King Is Alive (2000), and Chica De Rio (2001), and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (2007).

Williams also works extensively on British Television and Radio. In 2001, she was awarded the Best Actress FIPA Award for her performance in the mini series The Russian Bride. In 2004, Williams received much critical acclaim for her performance in the BBC drama May 33rd, in which she portrayed a young woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder. The role also earned her both BAFTA and Royal Television Society Best Actress award nominations.

Other recent television appearances include the Agatha Christie adaptations Sparkling Cyanide (2003) and By The Pricking Of My Thumbs (2006). Williams also lends her voice to numerous plays and audio books for BBC Radio.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931165/ Lia Williams at IMDB.com]
* [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/Lia%20Williams%2025620.twl Bio at National Theatre Website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/may33rd/ Official "May 33rd" Site]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/08/13/btweek13.xml Daily Telegraph Article]
* [http://london.broadway.com/story/id/3009243 Interview at Broadway.com]