Ursula Mohan
Ursula Mohan is a British actress born in India on January 9, 1946. Her mother was English and her father an Indian from Amritsar. She spent her childhood living in the USA and India before settling in the UK. She has been married to theatre and opera director Ian Watt-Smith since 1976. Their daughter Tiffany Watt-Smith is a writer and academic (On Flinching, 2014; the Book of Human Emotions, 2015) and their son Tom Watt-Smith is a producer and director of television documentaries. Ursula was previously married to actor Seymour Matthews divorcing in 1975.
Ursula Mohan began her acting career aged 15 at Wimbledon Theatre before being awarded a scholarship to train at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in 1962. On graduation she won The Webber Cup for an outstanding female student and the Rodney Millington Award from The Spotlight. She then joined The Bristol Old Vic Company for six months before becoming a member of The Royal Shakespeare Company. Her first role was playing the juvenile lead as Ala in Tango directed by Trevor Nunn and she was also in Peter Brook’s US among other productions. She is a working professional actress and a teacher of acting to the present day.
THEATRE CREDITS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS INCLUDE:
2016 Lear in Revival of QUEEN LEAR Tristan Bates Theatre Dir:Phil Willmott
2015 Ellen in HORNIMAN’S CHOICE Dir: Anna Marsland - The Finborough
2015 Hecuba in THE TROJAN WOMEN Dir: Phil Willmott The Scoop
2014 Gwen in Pitted Dir: Louise Hill Attic Theatre Playfest
2014 Lear in LEAR Dir: Phil Willmott Union Theatre
(Won Craig Dodd Prize – Best Leading Actress)
2013 Mrs Bernbaum APPETITE Dir: Andrew Vishnevski GBS Theatre
2012 Mrs Midget OUTWARD BOUND Dir: Louise Hill The Finborough
2011 Mrs Goulding THE VEIL (Cover) Dir: Conor McPherson The National Theatre
2010 Mrs Fox DAD’S ARMY 5 month UK tour Dir: Robert Carson
RECENT MUSICAL THEATRE CREDITS INCLUDE:
2015 Goddess Khali in musical HIS INDIAN BOYFREIND (workshop), Dir: Phil Willmott MD: - Theatre Royal Stratford East
2011 Mrs Tottendale THE DROWSY CHAPERONE The Gatehouse, Dir: Racky Plews MD: Tim Whiting CH: Fabian Aloise
2009/10 Fairy Godmother CINDERELLA Sheringham & Hertford, Dir: Rhys Thomas MD: Ron Sayer / Chris Nolan CH: Cat Noller
2009 Narrator & Lascivious Crone JASON & THE ARGONAUTS, Dir. Phil Willmott, MD: Elliott Davis, CH: Ally Holmes The Scoop
2008 Grandmere in PETITE ROUGE, Dir: Phil Willmott, MD: Joe Fredericks CH: David Greenall The Scoop
PAST THEATRE & MUSICAL THEATRE CREDITS INCLUDE:
2009 Nurse/Messenger in MEDEA Dir: Phil Willmott The Scoop
2008 Mother in BLOOD WEDDING Dir: Phil Willmott The Scoop
2007 Paulina in THE WINTER’S TALE Dir. Phil Willmott The Courtyard
2007 Tatiana in THE LOWER DEPTHS Dir: Phil Willmott The Finborough
2006 Birdie in HOMESTEAD Dir: Steven Dykes adapted from Lorca
2005 Mother in SONS OF HERCULES Dir: Phil Willmott The Scoop
2005 Meg in Treasure Island Dir: Phil Willmott The Scoop
2004 Carla in EYES CATCH FIRE Dir: Daniel Nyman - Premiere
2003 Lily Mortar in CHLDREN’S HOUR Dir:Daniel Choissin The Union
2002 Gertrude in HAMLET, Attic Theatre Co in Cannizarro Park Dir: Jenny Lee
2001 Maude in WIGS, WIDE BOYS AND THE RULER OF THE WORLD,
Premiere Wimbledon Studio Dir: Sue Wilson
2000 Fatima in ONLINE AND PARANOID The Finborough Dir: Mervyn Miller
1999 Auntie in WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND Churchill Bromley Dir: Nick Blight
1998 Mrs Fairweather in BOB SCALLION Jack Theatre Dir: Rhys Thomas -
(televised & won TAPS)
1998 Saeeds in THE IMMIGRANT SONG Premiere Albany Theatre Dir: Rhys Thomas
1997 Marie in THE GRANNIE British Premiere Wimbledon Studio Dir: Jenny Lee
1994/5 Nurse in ROMEO AND JULIET and First Witch/Gentlewoman in MACBETH Attic Theatre Co in Cannizarro Park Dir: Jenny Lee
1993 Dido in WOLFMAN Premier Wimbledon Studio Dir: Chris Barton
1992 Joy SHADOWLANDS Palace Theatre Westcliff Dir. Chris Dunham
(Won Stellar Award - Best Actress)
1991/2 Everyman Theatre Cheltenham Mrs Bardell in PICKWICH PAPERS Dir: Martin Houghton and Miss Hodge in DESIGN FOR LIVING Dir: Ian Forrest
1990 Anath in THE LAST ENGLISHMAN Premiere Orange Tree Richmond Dir: David Pinner
1989 Pia in CRIME ON GOAT ISLAND Wimbledon Studeio Dir: Sue Wilson
1988 Zia in SICILIAN LIMES Man in the Moon Theatre Dir: Vanessa Fielding
1986 Sheila in BENEFACTORS Windsor Theatre Royal Dir: Ian Watt-Smith
1985 Lucretia THE CENCI Bristol Old Vic transferred to Almeida Theatre Dir: Debbie Shewell
1984 Stacey in COMIC CUTS Nuffield Theatre Southampton Dir: Peter Wilson
1984 Mrs Thrale in GOD’S GOOD ENGLISHMAN (tour) Dir: Ian Watt-Smith
1984/5 Rachael SEASONS GREETINGS Derek Nimmo Tour of Far & Middle East Dir: Tony Craven
1983 Mrs Cheverley AN IDEAL HUSBAND Birmingham Rep Dir: Clive Perry
1982/3 Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough. Giulianella in SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY, Amandsa in TRIP TO SCARBOROUGH AND Sandy Beige in MAKING TRACKS (musical transferred to Greenwich Theatre) Dir: Alan Ayckbourn
1981 Louise in JOKING APART Hornchurch Theatre Dir: Andy Hines
1980 Dr Scott WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY Birmingham Rep Dir: Bill Pryde
1979/80 Lika THE PROMISE Dir: Phil Partridge & Suzannah in BEDROOM FARCE Dir: Ian Watt-Smith Churchill Bromley
1978/9 Mitzi A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED Vaudeville Theatre Dir: Robert Chetwyn
1976/78 Marionetta I THE ARTFUL WIDOW Dir: Ian Watt-Smith, Antigone in SONS OF OEDIPUS & Elmire in TARTUFFE Dir: David Thompson, Maria TWELFTH NIGHT Dir: John Cox, Tweenie THE ADMIRAL CRIGHTON Dir: Mike Ockrent, Luka ARMS AND THE MAN Dir: Robert Chetwyn Greenwich Theatre
1976 Title role in GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN Hampstead Theatre Dir: Ian Watt-Smith
1975 Emilia in OTHELLO & Rosaline in LOVE’S LABOURS LOST Regent’s Park and Middle East Tour Dir: David Conville
1975 Dolores in BLOODY MARY Dir: Ken Hill & IT’S A CRAZY WORLD Dir: Larry Dann - Theatre Royal Stratford East
1973/5 Welsh Drama Company Sherman Theatre Cardiff: Jenny Lee in ANEURINE BEVAN Dir: Howard Davies, Janet in I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE Dir: Hywell Bennet, Masha in THE SEAGULL Dir: Geoffrey Reeves, Marya in GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR Dir: Michael Geliot, Sylvia in THE RECRUITING OFFICER, Olivia in NIGHT MUST FALL, Mary in HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Dir: Ian Watt-Smith
1972/3 The Young Vic Theatre -Zerbinetta SCAPINO Dir: Frank Dunlop and Ada in HOBSON’S CHOICE Dir: Bernard Gosss
1973 Anna in TIME AND TIME AGAIN Mercury Theatre ColchesterDir: David Buxton
1972 HAPPY AS A SANDBAG Pheonix Theatre Leicester Dir: Bernard Krichefski
1972 Elise in SLAG Liverpool Playhouse Dir: Caroline Smith
1972 Julie in 11 JOSEPHINE HOUSE Premiere The Almost Free Theatre Dir: Roland Reece
1971 Helen ON APPROVAL Dir: John Link and Miranda in RELATIVE VALUES Dir: Ian Mullins Castle Theatre Farnham
1971 Liz in REVENGE Dir: Chris Parr (premiere) Royal Court Theatre
1971/70 Arts Theatre Ipswich Title role in MARGARET CATCHPOLE Premiere and Elsa in THE ITALIAN GIRL Dir: Nick Barter
1970 Marie in DORABELLA premiere Traverse Edinburgh Dir: Peter James
1970 First Witch in MACBETH The Open Space and European tour Dir: Charles Marowitz
1969/70Anya in CHERRY ORCHARD and First Fairy MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Dir: Robin Phillips Cleo In BLACK COMEDY and Lamb in BIG NOISE AT FORTISSIMO Dir: Charles Savage Northcott Theatre Exeter
1966/9 Royal Shakespeare Company - Aldwych and Stratford: US Dir: Peter Brook ,Ala in TANGO (Plays & Players Most Promising Newcomer) Bianca in TAMING OF THE SHREW, Maid in THE RELAPSE, Girl in THE REVENGER’S TRADGEDY Dir: Trevor Nunn, Rosalind (cover) in AS YOU LIKE IT Dir: David Jones
1965/6 Miss Fishlock in HARLEQUINADE and Kari in PEER GYNT Dir: Val May and Louise in PRIVATE LIVES Dir: David Phethean The Bristol Old Vic
FILM, TELEVISION CREDITS:
2016 Doctors (TV Series) Evelyn Robinson
2004 The Bank Job (Film) - Dave's Mum
2002 Holby City (TV Series) Elf and Happiness - Tanzeela Hussein
2000 Asylum (Film) - Sue
2000 Casualty (TV Series) Past, Present, Future - June
2000 The Gypsy Girl (Television Film) – Mrs Payne
1999 In Defence (TV Series) Episode #1.4 (2000) ... Ruth Kramer
1998 Kavanagh QC (TV Series) Time of Need - Jury Foreman
1996 Bliss (Television series ) Claire
1996 2point4 Children (TV Series) The Sweet Hereafter - Market Researcher
1995 The Peter Principle (TV Pilot) Elise
1995 Roger Roger (TV Pilot) – Mavis
1996 The Girl –Catherine Cookson (TV Movie) Miss Rowntree
London's Burning (TV Series) as Ann Edwards
1996 Episode #9.6
1995 Episode #8.5
1992 Episode #5.1
1995 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (TV Series) Heartstones - Mrs. Cyprian
1995 Crown Prosecutor (TV Series) Episode #1.2 - Mrs. Rutherford
1994 Brookside (TV Series) Mrs Lappin
The Bill (TV Series)
1992 Stoning the Glasshouse - Julia Cole
1991 Snouts and Red Herrings - Mrs. Farmer
1998 Kinsey (TV Series) I've Been Nutmegged Done Up Like a Kipper - Mrs. Barnes
1988 Small World (TV Mini-Series) Unreal Cities Turkish woman
1986 To Have and to Hold (TV Mini-Series) Episode #1.8 Registrar
1983 Partners in Crime (TV Series) The Affair of the Pink Pearl – Elise
1982 Bognor (TV Series) Just Desserts: Part 2 - A Health Warning Mrs. Khan
1982 Crime Monthly (Reconstruction crime TV) Hotel receptionist
1980 – 1983 Pig in the Middle (TV Series) as Eileen Bennet
The Faint Aroma of Performing Seals
Ships That Pass in the Night, Stopping
Then Loudly Sing Cuckoo
1980 Cribb (TV Series) Waxwork - Sarah Berry
1979 Agony (TV Series) Forever and Never - Cherry
1973 Men of Affairs (TV Comedy Series) - May We Have Our Ball Back? - Greta Wildblood
1972 Scott On... (TV Comedy Series) The Sex War - girl in several sketches
1970 – 1972 On the Buses (TV Series) as Joyce
Private Hire (1972)
Not Tonight (1971)
Christmas Duty (1970)
Nowhere to Go (1970)
On the Make (1970)
1970 Tales of Unease (TV Series) Calculated Nightmare - Moira
1970 Every Home Should Have One (Film) – Girl
1969 Peter Brook’s Tell Me Lies (Film) Updated 2015
TEACHER OF ACTING
Ursula Mohan has also been a Professional Acting Tutor and Workshop leader and continues to coach.
2008 – 2015 D & B School of Performing Arts Bromley
(Head of Acting, Voice & Speech, Television Technique and Careers Advisor)
2008 – 2012 Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts London
(Visiting Tutor of Acting and Project Director)
1996 – 2008 Arts Educational Schools London W4 1LY
(Tutor of Acting, Workshop Leader and Careers Advisor)
1993 – 1996 Croydon College Selhurst
(Tutor of Acting - BTEC National Diploma Performing Arts Course)
1990 – 1995 Stagecoach Theatre Arts Beckenham Kent
(Acting Teacher and Performance Director)
OTHER
Trustee of The Attic Theatre Company London from 1995 - current