Skip to content
MovieCove
Barbara Jefford

Barbara Jefford

Actor · Died September 12, 2020, aged 90 · Plymstock, Devon, England

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Barbara Jefford, OBE (born 26 July 1930) is a British Shakespearean actress best known for her theatrical performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Vic and the National Theatre, and her role as Molly Bloom in the 1967 film of James Joyce's Ulysses. Description above from the Wikipedia article Barbara Jefford, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 26, 1930
Died
September 12, 2020 (aged 90)
From
Plymstock, Devon, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 46 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 27Up 31% in 30 days

What are Barbara Jefford's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Society
24%
Morality
20%
Self
12%
Power
10%
Survival
4%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 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 3 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 4 · 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 2 · 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 4 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Melancholic
6
Bittersweet
3
Contemplative
3
Joyful
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Barbara Jefford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Jefford'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

46 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page.

  • Philomena(2013)

    as Sister Hildegarde

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Deep Blue Sea(2011)

    as Collyer's Mother

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Madame Bovary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marquise

  • The Ninth Gate(1999)

    as Baroness Kessler

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Drinkwater · as Elizabeth Chettham

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • A Village Affair(1995)

    as Lady Unwin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

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

    Show 11 episodes · as Lady Lydia Eliott

  • Where Angels Fear to Tread(1991)

    as Mrs. Herriton

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Frau Strauss

  • When the Whales Came(1989)

    as Auntie Mildred

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Campion(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Shannon

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Porterhouse Blue(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lady Mary

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Claudia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Rosa

  • Time for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Monica Dawes

  • The Ship Sails On(1983)

    as Ildebranda Cuffari

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Nelly's Version (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Ms. Wyckham

  • Walter and June (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Walter's mother

  • Walter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Sarah - Walter's mother

  • The Spy Who Loved Me(1977)

    as Naomi (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Then and Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hitler: The Last Ten Days(1973)

    as Magda Goebbels

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Visitors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sophie Bielska

  • Edna: The Inebriate Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Josie, of 'Jesus Saves'

  • Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce Ramsdell

  • Lust for a Vampire(1971)

    as Countess Herritzen

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Josie, of 'Jesus Saves'

  • Canterbury Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 7 episodes · as Wife of Bath

  • The Shoes of the Fisherman(1968)

    as Dr. Ruth Faber

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Sex Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Miriam

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1969)

    as Hippolyta

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Belle Weston

  • The Bofors Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Belinda - NAAFI Girl

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Erlynne

  • Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Weston

  • Ulysses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Molly Bloom

  • Thunderball(1965)

    as Patricia Fearing (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Amy Hillcrist · as Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland

  • The Man in Room 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Ursula Dallendorf

  • A Little Temptation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Ella Cartwright

  • Thursday Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Smilja Darde

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Ella Cartwright

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Anna · as Elizabeth Melville

  • From Russia with Love(1963)

    as Tatiana Romanova (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1959)

    as Titania

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kate Hardcastle

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles from 1952 to 2013; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Philomena (2013)

$100M worldwide

Highest rated

Philomena (2013)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Ninth Gate (1999)

Film career

19522013

Peak 2013 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting45 of 45: 45 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rd

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s17 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 13% of 8 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 Barbara Jefford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

A Village Affair (1995)

58th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Philomena (2013)

Midcredits 95th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 51. 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.

Is Barbara Jefford's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles24–58 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Barbara Jefford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Jefford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Helen Mirren shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers