Sian Phillips stars in the stage version of Calendar Girls to raise funds for charity. She has been voted among the 50 sexiest women from Wales. File Photo 2006 New York
Because Welsh-born Sian must have a fair claim to be the world’s sexiest 74-year-old.
The I, Claudius star is the oldest member of a top-notch ensemble cast assembled for the stage version of the hit 2003 film, which originally starred Julie Walters and Helen Mirren.
Appearing alongside the Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen-born star on stage will be Oxo mum actress Lynda Bellingham, 60, former Coronation Street star Gaynor Faye, 36 and 50-year-old Elaine Smith.
Calendar Girls is based on the true story of the intrepid members of the Rylstone Women’s Institute in North Yorkshire whose nude charity calendar became an instant sensation when it was published in 1999.
Sian, a leading light in the Social Welsh & Sexy social networking group, yesterday admitted that the role was “daunting”.
She said: “I’ve done a few nude scenes on film – I’ve been in the business since I was 16.
“But it’s a daunting thought actually going naked on stage.
“Am I going to look good? “Well, I do a lot of exercise because it’s important in acting to keep in good physical nick and I go to pilates classes.
“But to be honest, I don’t really care as long as I get my part right – that’s the important thing.”
Asked if women could still be sexy after 60, she said: “I’ve been reported as saying a woman should not show her arms after the age of 30 when they go a bit flabby and that short skirts are out whenever cellulite comes along.
“But age should never be a barrier to anything – my grandmother told me that.”
Sian admitted that going unclad in front of hundreds of people was something she could never have envisaged in her days growing up on the Black Mountain above Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, a few miles north of Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley.
She said: “We were strictly chapel, you know, really Welsh chapel in those days and this kind of thing would be unheard of.
“But I went into acting early and got used to a different life though those days always live with me.”
She still has strong ties with Wales and would have been in Whitland, West Wales this weekend for the marriage of her lawyer niece Helen Lewis to her fiance William were it not for rehearsals.
She said of the play: “It’s not strictly naked, in that we have various bits of kitchen furniture, flowers and tea pots with which to hide our modesty.
“I’m sure some will come along to see a load of bare ladies but for most the attraction I hope, will be a good play which is good fun.”
The original film was centred around the true story of a nude calendar shot by cameraman Terry Logan, designed to send up the WI’s “jam and Jerusalem” image.
The middle-aged women became international celebrities, with the calendar raising over £600,000.
The Calendar Girls film was released in 2003, with Dame Helen and Julie Walters in the lead roles.
The play stars Lynda Bellingham in the role originally played by Dame Helen Mirren with Sian Phillips playing the role of Jessie, originally played by Anette Crosbie.
Sian’s appearance in the play is a timely addition to the debate about older women baring all.
Ex-Dynasty star Joan Collins recently told a magazine after glamorous pictures of a bikini-clad 63-year-old Helen Mirren re-ignited the subject earlier this summer: “Of course, at 40 or 50 you’re not going to have the dewy, unlined skin of a teenager – but it’s totally possible to keep looking as good as you can for as long as you live.
“And if you look good to yourself, then others will find you sexy.”
© 2008 Media Wales Ltd
August 15, 2008
U.K.: Why is Calendar Girl Sian Phillips so sexy at 74?
.
CARDIFF, Wales (Western Mail), August 15, 2008:
By Robin Turner, Western Mail
A STRAW poll of the world’s pensioners would not find many willing to take to a theatre stage completely naked.
But despite her advancing years, Sian Phillips is no ordinary 74-year-old.
The acclaimed actress is preparing to appear nude in a stage production of the hit film Calendar Girls – with just a strategically placed bread bin and sunflower to hide her modesty.
But thanks to a rigorous exercise regime and a programme of pilates classes, the septuagenarian is better placed than most of her contemporaries to meet the challenge.
Sian Phillips stars in the stage version of Calendar Girls to raise funds for charity. She has been voted among the 50 sexiest women from Wales. File Photo 2006 New York
Because Welsh-born Sian must have a fair claim to be the world’s sexiest 74-year-old.
The I, Claudius star is the oldest member of a top-notch ensemble cast assembled for the stage version of the hit 2003 film, which originally starred Julie Walters and Helen Mirren.
Appearing alongside the Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen-born star on stage will be Oxo mum actress Lynda Bellingham, 60, former Coronation Street star Gaynor Faye, 36 and 50-year-old Elaine Smith.
Calendar Girls is based on the true story of the intrepid members of the Rylstone Women’s Institute in North Yorkshire whose nude charity calendar became an instant sensation when it was published in 1999.
Sian, a leading light in the Social Welsh & Sexy social networking group, yesterday admitted that the role was “daunting”.
She said: “I’ve done a few nude scenes on film – I’ve been in the business since I was 16.
“But it’s a daunting thought actually going naked on stage.
“Am I going to look good? “Well, I do a lot of exercise because it’s important in acting to keep in good physical nick and I go to pilates classes.
“But to be honest, I don’t really care as long as I get my part right – that’s the important thing.”
Asked if women could still be sexy after 60, she said: “I’ve been reported as saying a woman should not show her arms after the age of 30 when they go a bit flabby and that short skirts are out whenever cellulite comes along.
“But age should never be a barrier to anything – my grandmother told me that.”
Sian admitted that going unclad in front of hundreds of people was something she could never have envisaged in her days growing up on the Black Mountain above Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, a few miles north of Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley.
She said: “We were strictly chapel, you know, really Welsh chapel in those days and this kind of thing would be unheard of.
“But I went into acting early and got used to a different life though those days always live with me.”
She still has strong ties with Wales and would have been in Whitland, West Wales this weekend for the marriage of her lawyer niece Helen Lewis to her fiance William were it not for rehearsals.
She said of the play: “It’s not strictly naked, in that we have various bits of kitchen furniture, flowers and tea pots with which to hide our modesty.
“I’m sure some will come along to see a load of bare ladies but for most the attraction I hope, will be a good play which is good fun.”
The original film was centred around the true story of a nude calendar shot by cameraman Terry Logan, designed to send up the WI’s “jam and Jerusalem” image.
The middle-aged women became international celebrities, with the calendar raising over £600,000.
The Calendar Girls film was released in 2003, with Dame Helen and Julie Walters in the lead roles.
The play stars Lynda Bellingham in the role originally played by Dame Helen Mirren with Sian Phillips playing the role of Jessie, originally played by Anette Crosbie.
Sian’s appearance in the play is a timely addition to the debate about older women baring all.
Ex-Dynasty star Joan Collins recently told a magazine after glamorous pictures of a bikini-clad 63-year-old Helen Mirren re-ignited the subject earlier this summer: “Of course, at 40 or 50 you’re not going to have the dewy, unlined skin of a teenager – but it’s totally possible to keep looking as good as you can for as long as you live.
“And if you look good to yourself, then others will find you sexy.”
© 2008 Media Wales Ltd
Sian Phillips stars in the stage version of Calendar Girls to raise funds for charity. She has been voted among the 50 sexiest women from Wales. File Photo 2006 New York
Because Welsh-born Sian must have a fair claim to be the world’s sexiest 74-year-old.
The I, Claudius star is the oldest member of a top-notch ensemble cast assembled for the stage version of the hit 2003 film, which originally starred Julie Walters and Helen Mirren.
Appearing alongside the Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen-born star on stage will be Oxo mum actress Lynda Bellingham, 60, former Coronation Street star Gaynor Faye, 36 and 50-year-old Elaine Smith.
Calendar Girls is based on the true story of the intrepid members of the Rylstone Women’s Institute in North Yorkshire whose nude charity calendar became an instant sensation when it was published in 1999.
Sian, a leading light in the Social Welsh & Sexy social networking group, yesterday admitted that the role was “daunting”.
She said: “I’ve done a few nude scenes on film – I’ve been in the business since I was 16.
“But it’s a daunting thought actually going naked on stage.
“Am I going to look good? “Well, I do a lot of exercise because it’s important in acting to keep in good physical nick and I go to pilates classes.
“But to be honest, I don’t really care as long as I get my part right – that’s the important thing.”
Asked if women could still be sexy after 60, she said: “I’ve been reported as saying a woman should not show her arms after the age of 30 when they go a bit flabby and that short skirts are out whenever cellulite comes along.
“But age should never be a barrier to anything – my grandmother told me that.”
Sian admitted that going unclad in front of hundreds of people was something she could never have envisaged in her days growing up on the Black Mountain above Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, a few miles north of Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley.
She said: “We were strictly chapel, you know, really Welsh chapel in those days and this kind of thing would be unheard of.
“But I went into acting early and got used to a different life though those days always live with me.”
She still has strong ties with Wales and would have been in Whitland, West Wales this weekend for the marriage of her lawyer niece Helen Lewis to her fiance William were it not for rehearsals.
She said of the play: “It’s not strictly naked, in that we have various bits of kitchen furniture, flowers and tea pots with which to hide our modesty.
“I’m sure some will come along to see a load of bare ladies but for most the attraction I hope, will be a good play which is good fun.”
The original film was centred around the true story of a nude calendar shot by cameraman Terry Logan, designed to send up the WI’s “jam and Jerusalem” image.
The middle-aged women became international celebrities, with the calendar raising over £600,000.
The Calendar Girls film was released in 2003, with Dame Helen and Julie Walters in the lead roles.
The play stars Lynda Bellingham in the role originally played by Dame Helen Mirren with Sian Phillips playing the role of Jessie, originally played by Anette Crosbie.
Sian’s appearance in the play is a timely addition to the debate about older women baring all.
Ex-Dynasty star Joan Collins recently told a magazine after glamorous pictures of a bikini-clad 63-year-old Helen Mirren re-ignited the subject earlier this summer: “Of course, at 40 or 50 you’re not going to have the dewy, unlined skin of a teenager – but it’s totally possible to keep looking as good as you can for as long as you live.
“And if you look good to yourself, then others will find you sexy.”
© 2008 Media Wales Ltd
