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Sylvia Syms

Sylvia Syms

Actor · Died January 27, 2023, aged 89 · Woolwich, London, England, UK

Sylvia May Laura Syms, OBE (January 6, 1934 - January 27, 2023) was an English actress of film, television, and stage. One of the major players in films from the mid-1950s until mid-1960s, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her role in Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957). She is also known for her roles in films like Ice-Cold in Alex (1958), No Trees in the Street (1959), Victim (1961), and The Tamarind Seed (1974).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 6, 1934
Died
January 27, 2023 (aged 89)
From
Woolwich, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 107 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 12% in 30 days

What are Sylvia Syms' films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: 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
Bonds
29%
Self
20%
Survival
14%
Morality
14%
Power
12%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 10 · Dark 13

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 19 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 14 · Intense 8

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

A split, not a type: Steady 14 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 14 · 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 12 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
20
Warm
6
Bittersweet
6
Contemplative
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Hopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

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 Sylvia Syms' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sylvia Syms' 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

107 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Gentleman Jack(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Rawson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Together (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Talking Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 34 episodes · as Narrator

  • Run for Your Wife(2012)

    as Hip Operation Woman

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice

  • Booked Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mrs Nicholls

  • Case Histories(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Binky Rain

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Long Lonely Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mrs. Didcott

  • Bunny and the Bull(2009)

    as Hotelier

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Collision(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Joyce Thompson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Week We Went To War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Is Anybody There?(2008)

    as Lilian

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Above Suspicion(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs Hedges

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Queen(2006)

    as Queen Mother

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Poseidon Adventure(2005)

    as Belle Rosen

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Child of Mine(2005)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Lavinia Pinkerton

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Beatrice

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Murder(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy Gaumont

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • I'll Sleep When I'm Dead(2003)

    as Mrs. Bartz

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • What a Girl Wants(2003)

    as Princess Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Zhivago(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · as Madame Fleury

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Born and Bred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Grimshaw

  • The Jury(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · as Elsie Beamish

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Judge John Deed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rose Hussein

  • At Home with the Braithwaites(2000)

    Show 20 episodes · as Marion Riley

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Mavis and the Mermaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gioga

  • Holby City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Larkin

  • Neville's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mrs. Campness

  • Food of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mrs. Harvey-Brown

  • Original Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Esme Carling

  • Dalziel and Pascoe(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maisie Barron

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Half the Picture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Margaret Thatcher

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Eversley

  • The Glass Virgin(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lady Constance

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Kavanagh QC(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Claudia

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

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

    Actor

  • Staggered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Margaret

  • Dirty Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Mrs. Crosby

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 15 episodes · as Isabel de Gines

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy Tatton

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Mulberry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Springtime

  • Shining Through(1992)

    as Linda's Mother

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Laughter of God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Diana

  • Thatcher: The Final Days(1991)

    as Margaret Thatcher

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Doctor Who: Ghost Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Mrs Pritchard

  • Shirley Valentine(1989)

    as Headmistress

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • A Chorus of Disapproval(1989)

    as Rebecca Huntley-Pike

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Mr. H Is Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Intimate Contact (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Annie Stanhope

  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lilian Crown · as Mrs. Thorn · as Mrs. Whalby · as Stephen's mother

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Bunny Tyrill · as Mrs. Bullock

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Absolute Beginners(1986)

    as Cynthia Eve

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Vivien Scott-Forbes

  • Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Easterbrook

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Diana · as Margaret Thatcher

  • Miss Marple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Easterbrook

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

    Show 38 episodes · Actor

  • It's Your Move (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as The Wife

  • Nancy Astor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Nanaire Langhorne

  • There Goes the Bride(1980)

    as Ursula Westerby

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Give Us Tomorrow(1978)

    as Wendy Hammond

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Comedy Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Verity Martin

  • The Tamarind Seed(1974)

    as Margaret Stephenson

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Asylum(1972)

    as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Karen Ballard

  • Paul Temple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Strange Report (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Webber

  • Run Wild, Run Free(1969)

    as Mrs. Ransome

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Desperados(1969)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Fiction Makers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Joyce Darling

  • Hostile Witness(1969)

    as Sheila Larkin

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Root of All Evil? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Glover

  • Danger Route(1967)

    as Barbara Canning

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Carlotta Forcelli · as Frances

  • Half Hour Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Flora Halliwell-Holmes

  • Bat Out of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 5 episodes · as Diana Stewart

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Judy Marriott

  • The Big Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Myrtle Robbins

  • Operation Crossbow(1965)

    as Constance Babington Smith

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • East of Sudan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Miss Woodville

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Pritchard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The World Ten Times Over(1963)

    as Billa

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Punch and Judy Man(1963)

    as Delia Pinner

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Human Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Margo

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amos Klein · as Arlene · as Jeannine Roger · as Lady Anne Yearley

  • The Quare Fellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Kathleen

  • Victim(1961)

    as Laura Farr

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Flame in the Streets(1961)

    as Kathie Palmer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Amazons of Rome(1961)

    as Clelia

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The World of Suzie Wong(1960)

    as Kay O’Neill

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Paula Glover

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Conspiracy of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Sister Mitya

  • Expresso Bongo(1959)

    as Maisie King

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Ferry to Hong Kong(1959)

    as Liz Ferrers

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • No Trees in the Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Hetty

  • Bachelor of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Ann Wainwright

  • The Moonraker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Anne Wyndham

  • Ice Cold in Alex(1958)

    as Sister Diana Murdoch

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Birthday Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Jean Scott

  • No Time for Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Nurse Margaret Collier

  • Woman in a Dressing Gown(1957)

    as Georgie Harlow

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kay McCone · as Mary Fleming

  • My Teenage Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Janet Carr

  • Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Deborah Grayson · as Hilary

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet Towne

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1950 to 2019; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

The Queen (2006)

$125M worldwide

Highest rated

Victim (1961)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

What a Girl Wants (2003)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19502019

Peak 2004 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting107 of 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s13 · acting1960s27 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s8 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
586803

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Sylvia Syms' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Run for Your Wife (2012)

85th percentile spread · 72% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Victim (1961)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. 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 Sylvia Syms' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 20 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 20 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Sylvia Syms work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sylvia Syms' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Anthony Quayle shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers