Paul Darrow

Paul Darrow: 

† May 2 1941 – Jun 3 2019

Sullen and intense-looking actor whose perma-scowl was a defining feature of the clunky BBC cult space opera, 'Blakes 7' between 1978 and 1981. He played Avon, whose cynical self-interest, dubious loyalties, and kiss/kill relationship with the show's arch-baddie, slinky Federation commander Servalan, drove most of the key storylines.
  

With his old adversary Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce) in 'Blakes 7'

Before 'Blakes 7', Darrow had appeared in a few roles in middling popular dramas ranging from 'Emergency Ward 10' and 'Coronation Street' to 'The Saint' and the gripping Nazi-fest 'Manhunt'. A big break was playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1975 BBC series; The Legend of Robin Hood', in which he got to exercise his sinister glare to good effect. He was in 'Doctor Who', before and after 'Blakes 7', and made a convincingly devious Mr Carker in the BBC's 'Dombey & Son' in 1983.

'The Legend of Robin Hood'

Darrow never got much film work. In fact, from imdb it looks as though he only hit the big screen a couple of times, playing doctors in both 'The Raging Moon' (1971) and 'Die Another Day (2002).

Since the '80s, you may have caught his regular appearances in 'Law & Order: UK' or his part as roguish middle-aged biker Eddie Fox in 'Emmerdale', but increasingly he has found a niche in the world of video game voiceovers. I've never heard of any of them and won't list them here, but I hope we see more of Paul Darrow on our TV and cinema screens in future.



In the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery 'Murder Must Advertise'

Telling Malcolm McDowell the bad news in 'The Raging Moon (1971)

Paul Darrow - imdb

Rosalyn Landor

Rosalyn Landor:

An English beauty, in a rather elongated and lugubrious manner, this haughty Hampstead-born actress has had numerous brushes with top billing, yet somehow always remained just a twinkle short of star status. Ms Landor began her career as a ten-year-old in 'The Devil Rides Out' (1968), an auspicious start which led to a few more bonnet-and-bloomers roles in the early '70s, such as the BBC series 'The Edwardians', and the film 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' (1972) which failed to become the children's classic its makers were hoping for. 

After a break for finishing school she began to appear in young woman roles requiring received pronunciation and maximum aloofness such as the bright young thing Polly in 'Love In A Cold Climate' and the classical drama 'The King of Argos'.       

In 'The Amazing Mr Blunden'

When the '80s came along she found herself much in demand to portray a bit of upper class glamour. Her slightly stern appearance saved her from the worst excesses of the period's posh-totty syndrome, instead appearing in middle-brow quality like 'Oxbridge Blues' and Rumpole of the Bailey' and the nonsensical 'C.A.T.S. Eyes' with Jill Gascoyne and Leslie Ash. She was also in the star-studded, yet truly abysmal, 'Arthur the King' (1980), which is so bad, you will need to see it to believe it.  

As Fiona Allways in 'Rumpole of the Bailey'

In her full '80s pomp in 'C.A.T.S. Eyes'

And of course, there was her part in Renault's lasting contribution to the horrible mental landscape of Thatcher's Britain:
'You're not being a bit... hasty about this, are you?' 

After all this she moved to the US, specialising in voiceover work in animation and latterly computer games, and narrating audio books. She put in a creditable outer-space Irish accent performance in a segment of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' before the Rob Lowe movie 'Bad Influence' (1990) sent her back to the voice booth for the next couple of decades.

Rosalyn Landor - imdb