Gillian Raine

Gillian Raine (b. Gillian Mary Lorraine, Ceylon now Sri Lanka, 28 December 1927)^[1] is an actress, singer and was the wife of the actor Leonard Rossiter from 1964-1984 (his death), though they had been living together since 1962. They had one daughter, Camilla (b. 1972).^[2]

Raine has appeared in a variety of repertory theatre, TV drama and film productions.^[3] Her theatre works includes Hedda Gabler (as Juliana Tesman), 2005, at The Duke of York's Theatre, Richard Eyre’s production of La Grande Magia for the National Theatre, Mike Bradwell’s Mackerel Sky at the Bush Theatre and Bill Bryden’s production of A Month in the Country at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and in the West End at the Albery Theatre. Film work includes Darling and A Night to Remember and on television Kiss Me Kate, Suddenly Last Summer, Vanity Fair, A Very Peculiar Practice and Under the Hammer. She met Rossiter when they were both appearing in the play Semi-Detached in 1962 at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. At this time Leonard was married to Josephine Tewson. During the play's second run at the Belgrade, in September 1963, Leonard and Gillian fell in love and started to live together, although they did not to marry until 1972.^[4] During his time with Raine, Rossiter had an affair with the BBC broadcaster Sue MacGregor which Raine was unaware of until after Rossiter's death in 1984.

Selected filmography

• Last of the Long-haired Boys (1968)

References