Rachel Thomas

Acting

Rachel Thomas

Born 1905-02-10 · Alltwen, Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Rachel Thomas was a Welsh character actress, who almost always played the stereotypical Welsh mother or grandmother, and appeared regularly on both Welsh and English language television. She appeared in such classic films as "The Proud Valley "(1940) with Paul Robeson, "Blue Scar" (1949) and "Tiger Bay" (1959). In 1954 she was part of the original BBC Radio cast of Dylan Thomas' radio play "Under Milk Wood", playing the roles of Rosie Probert, Mary Ann Sailors and Mrs. Willy Nilly and went on to play Mary Ann Sailors again in the 1972 film version.

Acting credits

Tiger Bay poster
7.2

In Tiger Bay, the docklands of Cardiff, street urchin Gillie witnesses the brutal murder of a young woman. Instead of reporting the crime, she merely pockets a prize for herself — the perpetrator's shiny black revolver — and flees. When Detective Graham discovers that Gillie has the murder weapon, the fiery young girl weaves a web of lies to throw him off course.

Tiger Bay

1959

Undercover poster
6.1

Occupied Yugoslavia. With organised resistance shattered by the Nazi onslaught it is only the activity of small guerrilla bands that bring fresh hope to the people. But quislings and infiltrators are everywhere – and trusting the wrong person could easily get you killed...

Undercover

1943

Under Milk Wood poster
7.0

A poet's tale of a day in the lives of the villagers of a Welsh fishing town of Llareggub.

Under Milk Wood

1992

The Captive Heart poster
6.4

A series of stories about the lives and loves of men in a Prisoner of War camp over five years. The main story is of Hasek (Redgrave) a Czech soldier who needs to keep his identity a secret from the Nazis. To do this, he poses as a dead English Officer and corresponds with the man's wife. Other inmates’ stories are also revealed. Location shooting in the British occupied part of Germany adds believability.

The Captive Heart

1946

The Halfway House poster
6.5

A group of travellers, each with a personal problem that they want to hide, arrive at a mysterious Welsh country inn. There is a certain strangeness in the air as they are greeted by the innkeeper and his daughter. Why are all the newspapers a year old? And why doesn't Gwyneth seem to cast a shadow?

The Halfway House

1944

The Life and Times of David Lloyd George poster
NR

The Life and Times of David Lloyd George charts the life of the controversial Liberal politician with Philip Madoc in the titular role. The title theme, Chi Mai, was by Ennio Morricone

The Life and Times of David Lloyd George

1981

Valley of Song poster
8.0

A little Welsh village is sundered by rival factions when a coveted contralto role in the "Messiah" is given to Mrs. Davies instead of Mrs. Lloyd. Based on a stage play "Choir Practice".

Valley of Song

1953

Catacombs poster
6.1

A rich woman who uses meditation to deal with pain is visited by her niece who returns from Paris. The woman can be a handful and one of her employees suggests to her husband that he kill her freeing them both. When an affair starts between the husband and the niece murder becomes a real possibility. However some people won't stay dead.

Catacombs

1965

The Proud Valley poster
6.3

In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.

The Proud Valley

1940

No artwork available
9.0

Play about two brothers who both want their Welsh grandfather to live with them.

After the Funeral

1960

Blue Scar poster
7.7

1940s British realist film about the life and struggles of a family in a Welsh mining town.

Blue Scar

1949

Sea Song poster
1.0

Millionaire recluse Ray Carter takes part in a single handed race across the Atlantic - but soon discovers a stowaway.

Sea Song

1974

The Clock poster
NR

A film about a twelve-year-old girl who has the opportunity to go back in time with the help of the family's big old clock.

The Clock

1986

David poster
6.6

Told with authenticity and perception, David looks back on the life of a school caretaker in a Welsh mining town, from the marriage and birth of his son to the trauma of a pit accident. David was the first film produced by the BFI, in 1951, and the Welsh selection for the same year’s Festival of Britain screenings in London.

David

1951