Wednesday 17 May 2023

Zuleika Robson

 

Zuleika Robson in Young Sherlock, BBC 1982

 Zuleika Robson:

Not a stage name, it seems, but one presumably given in honour of the titular femme fatale 'Zuleika Dobson' of Sir Max Beerbohm's 1911 satire on the absurdities of Oxford undergraduates. In any case, the wistfully pretty Zuleika Robson began her acting career as a child in the 1960s. With her winsome Victorian doll-like looks, she excelled in roles in children's classics such as the BBC's 1967 production of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', 'Heidi', 'Anne of Green Gables' and its sequel 'Anne of Avonlea'


As Susan in a publicity shot for the BBC's
'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', 1967
In Anne of Green Gables


On the cover of TV Times promoting  the ITV
drama 'A Man of Our Times'

That slightly other-worldly prettiness also translated well into oddball art films, thrillers and horror, including 'Isadora' (1968) 'The Blood on Satan's Claw' (1971), 'Revenge' (1971, AKA 'Inn of the Frightened People'). 

With Roberta Tovey in 'The Blood on Satan's Claw' (1971)

'Revenge' (1971)

With young womanhood came a slew of appearances in TV dramas, from the excellent 'The Changes' to moderate primetime successes 'Bouquet of Barbed Wire', 'The Lady Killers', RF Delderfield's 'People Like Us', and lower-brow fare such as 'Return of the Saint' and the quotidian 'Crown Court'. Film roles seem to dry up, with the exception of the typical Robin Askwith sex comedy 'Let's Get Laid' (1978).    

A minor role in 'Melissa', a Francis Durbridge
mystery thriller from 1974

In the fine 1981 childrens' drama 'Break in the Sun'

 
 The trail goes cold after 1982's enjoyable 'Young Sherlock' series from Granada TV, so any information on her career after this would be very welcome. I hope she didn't leave the acting profession entirely. But in any case, for now, here's our small salute.   

Zuleika Robson-imdb

 

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