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Phyllis Calvert

Phyllis Calvert

Actor · Died October 8, 2002, aged 87 · Chelsea, London, England, UK

Phyllis Calvert (18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002) was an English film, stage and television actress. Born Phyllis Hannah Bickle in Chelsea, she trained at the Margaret Morris School of Dancing and performed from the age of ten, gaining her first film role at the age of 12, in The Arcadians (1927), also known as The Land of Heart's Desire. Calvert performed in repertory theatre and in several films, before making her London stage debut in A Woman's Privilege in 1939. During the following decade, she starred in many romances, including Fanny by Gaslight, with James Mason and Stewart Granger, and My Own True Love, becoming one of Britain's highest paid stars. However, three Hollywood studios failed to pay her what she asked. She first found success in the film adaptation of H. G. Wells' Kipps (1941), but it was The Man in Grey (1943) that confirmed her status. She acted in over 40 films, her later films include Oh! What a Lovely War and The Walking Stick. Calvert had already appeared on television, playing Mrs. March in the 1958 serials Little Women and Good Wives (both adapted from Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women), as well as individual episodes of several other programmes, when, in 1970, she landed the part of an agony aunt with problems of her own in Kate. She made TV appearances in programmes such as Crown Court, Ladykillers, Tales of the Unexpected, Boon, After Henry and The Line Grove Story. She was married to the actor and antiquarian bookseller Peter Murray Hill, with whom she had two children, Ann Auriol (born 1943) and Piers Auriol (born 1954). She died in London in 2002, from natural causes, aged 87.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 18, 1915
Died
October 8, 2002 (aged 87)
From
Chelsea, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 63 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 20% in 30 days

What are Phyllis Calvert's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
37%
Self
29%
Bonds
19%
Society
6%
Power
4%
Survival
4%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 8
Ally
3 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
8
Romantic
5
Dread
3
Bittersweet
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Phyllis Calvert's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phyllis Calvert's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

63 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page.

  • Mrs Dalloway(1997)

    as Aunt Helena

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Bly

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Bed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Couple Woman

  • The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes Garrideb

  • Jute City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lady Muircross

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman

  • The House of Eliott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Gurney

  • Victoria Wood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilary

  • Across the Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Lady Dolly Campbell

  • The Woman He Loved(1988)

    as Queen Mary

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • After Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Auntie Lilian

  • The Death of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Mrs. Heccomb

  • A Killing on the Exchange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Alison Tyndall

  • All Passion Spent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Carrie

  • All Passion Spent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carrie

  • Fifties Features - The Women behind the Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • A Month in the Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Anna

  • Cover Her Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · as Eleanor Maxie

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes Garrideb

  • Lady Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosaline Fox

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Mabel Ince

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Walking Stick(1970)

    as Erica Dainton

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Kate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 38 episodes · as Kate Graham

  • Oh! What a Lovely War(1969)

    as Lady Dorothy Haig

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Twisted Nerve(1968)

    as Enid Durnley

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Radcliffe

  • The Battle of the Villa Fiorita(1965)

    as Margot

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Oscar Wilde(1960)

    as Constance Wilde

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Indiscreet(1958)

    as Mrs. Margaret Munson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • A Lady Mislaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Esther Wallace

  • The Young and the Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Gladys Connor

  • Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Tatiana

  • Child in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Evelyn Acheson

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Esther Ross

  • It's Never Too Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Laura Hammond

  • The Net (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lydia Heathley

  • The Postman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Mandy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Christine Garland

  • Mr. Denning Drives North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Kay Denning

  • The Woman with No Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Yvonne Winter

  • Appointment with Danger(1950)

    as Sister Augustine

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Golden Madonna(1949)

    as Patricia Chandler

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • My Own True Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Joan Clews

  • Broken Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mary Johnstone

  • Time Out of Mind(1947)

    as Kate Fernald

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Root of All Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Jeckie Farnish

  • The Magic Bow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Jeanne

  • Men of Two Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dr. Caroline Munro

  • They Were Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Lucy Moore

  • Madonna of the Seven Moons(1945)

    as Maddalena Labardi

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Two Thousand Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Freda Thompson

  • Man of Evil(1944)

    as Fanny

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Man in Grey(1943)

    as Clarissa Richmond Rohan / Clarissa Rohan

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Young Mr. Pitt(1942)

    as Eleanor Eden

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Uncensored (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Julie Lanvin

  • Kipps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Ann Pornick (adult)

  • Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Wilkinson

  • Neutral Port (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Helen Carter

  • Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Betty Forsythe

  • Let George Do It! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mary Wilson

  • They Came by Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sally

  • Two Days to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Joyce

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 63 titles from 1940 to 1997; peak year 1968.

Highest rated

Twisted Nerve (1968)

Midcredits 80th

Most popular right now

The Man in Grey (1943)

Film career

19401997

Peak 1968 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting63 of 63: 63 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1940s21 · acting1950s13 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s7 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 17% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Phyllis Calvert's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 15; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most loved · actor

Twisted Nerve (1968)

Midcredits 80th · 71% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Phyllis Calvert work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phyllis Calvert's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; R.E. Dearing shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers