gyda Gillian Elisa Cofio

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-# Remember

-# Remember #

-Good evening

-and a warm welcome to you.

-Joining me is a performer who's

-created many different characters.

-More than that,

-she's a character herself.

-Hello, Gillian Elisa.

-I think the most memorable character

-was Sab, or Sabrina, in Pobol Y Cwm.

-Sabrina is very close to my heart,

-as you know.

-She was the first character

-I portrayed on television.

-I was the youngest cast member

-at the time.

-It was a very exciting time.

-I was acting with Gaynor Morgan

-Rees, Lis Miles, Dilys Davies...

-..Rachel Thomas and Harriet Lewis.

-Well, you know, I didn't have much

-to say on my first day.

-Let's see the close relationship

-you had with Harriet Lewis...

-..or as we know her, Maggie Post.

-Well, I don't know how you cope.

-Five in the house?

-It must be awkward at times.

-We've always been five but

-they're bound to find us a place.

-Of course they will.

-Can you pass me that invoice?

-This one?

-Dear me.

-What's wrong now?

-What's wrong now?

-

-I'm thinking about your father.

-He's still out of work.

-It's been two months.

-It's been two months.

-

-Three.

-Three months?

-He's not the only one, though.

-No, no.

-A lot of young men too.

-I heard they had a decent golden

-handshake from the Coal Board.

-Did you?

-Did you?

-

-A thousand pounds.

-Dad didn't say anything about it.

-I don't know

-how we completed that scene.

-That hat was so comical.

-If you watch that clip carefully,

-we're almost laughing.

-We were on the edge.

-She was the same. We giggled a lot.

-Did she take you under her wing?

-Yes. She could also

-be very direct with me.

-"Have you been in that club again?!"

-"No," I'd reply.

-I'd laugh all the time -

-I never felt she was being nasty.

-She looked after me.

-She looked after me.

-

-Moving to the stage...

-..you were part

-of the first televised rock opera.

-It was called Melltith Ar Y Nyth

-in 1975.

-I couldn't believe

-they'd given me the part.

-During the first audition...

-..Rhydderch Jones, the director,

-was present...

-..along with Ruth Price

-and Jack Williams.

-All three

-were sitting behind a table.

-I went in and played the guitar.

-Ruth Price then said,

-"OK, you've proved you can sing.

-"Is there something you can do

-with movement?"

-"Yes," I replied.

-"I can do Big Spender."

-"Right," she replied,

-"Can we see Big Spender?"

-"Right," I replied.

-"I've got to go out first."

-"Oh, OK."

-I went out

-and I came back in and sang...

-# The minute you walked

-in the joint, uh-uh... #

-..and I also did the orchestration.

-I stopped and told them

-I had to do the orchestration...

-..because it was part of the song.

-# The minute you walked

-in the joint, uh-uh

-# I could see

-you were a man of distinction

-# A real big spender,

-hey, big spender

-# Uh, uh, uh-uh #

-And they said, "Yes, thank you,"

-and they gave me the part!

-Let's see you in action now.

-We performed it in London.

-# Beyond the world and its woes

-# Beyond the pain and misery

-# Beyond the stars,

-you'll find a place

-# Inside this dream

-# No-one knows where it's found

-# This world of perfect peace

-# I know that a place exists

-# Beyond the living world

-# I'm searching for the dream

-# That will last forever

-# I heard tales about it

-# Let me see it

-# Beyond the world and its woes

-# Beyond the pain and misery

-# The dream #

-That was a beautiful song.

-It was a very exciting experience

-for me.

-You were then given a role

-in a network series...

-..called Border Country.

-The series

-was called Border Country...

-..and my episode was called

-Heyday In The Blood.

-Donald Houston was the father

-and I played his daughter.

-I was very excited.

-Donald Houston had appeared

-in some great films.

-It was an honour.

-Let's see a clip of Border Country.

-You?

-Yes. That's how it is.

-I'm going away.

-Beti is coming with me.

-Feel proud of yourself?

-No.

-I will try...

-I will try...

-

-Try? Don't be daft, man. Shut up.

-Beti?

-Yes?

-Speak plain.

-You know all.

-You know.

-I ask you and ask you.

-You say nothing.

-Because...

-Because I...

-You understand.

-Inside me is safe

-where things ought to be.

-Help myself like this all my life.

-Inside.

-There is no way out, Dad.

-Who said?

-I say.

-I looked so sad.

-That dialogue was strange.

-I had to say unfamiliar sayings.

-Instead of "go away",

-I'd have to say "have be"...

-..and "have be" meant go away.

-It was the Montgomeryshire dialect.

-It could be rather strange

-but it was a great experience.

-There's a mixture in our next clip.

-You were part

-of the Codi Pais series.

-Are you someone

-who likes the limelight?

-It was compulsory

-if you were part of this series.

-You can do everything.

-I enjoy the limelight but

-I also enjoy being part of a team.

-When I was with Eirlys Parry,

-Siw Hughes and Sue Roderick...

-..if I went over the top...

-..they'd look at me and say,

-"Right, fine."

-We got on so well as a team.

-EERIE MUSIC

-# When the night comes and the

-curtains are drawn in every house

-# The wind blows through the thorns,

-you must have missed it all

-# Under the shadow of night,

-they wait to pull you down now

-# Ghostly goings on,

-is there anyone there now?

-# Under the moonlight

-# Under the moonlight

-# A full moon #

-My hands are everywhere

-in all the singing clips.

-My body's relatively still

-but my hands are everywhere.

-I love singing when I'm acting.

-It's part of me.

-Thank you for now, Gill.

-In Part 2, we'll leave the acting

-and singing for the jokes.

-# Remember #

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-Welcome back.

-Tonight, Gillian Elisa is my guest.

-We've heard your singing voice.

-Years ago, you were a member

-of a band called Graffia.

-You don't have a clip, do you?

-Before we show it,

-how did the group form?

-I was rather cheeky

-in my younger days.

-I was in the BBC Club

-and a band were playing.

-I told them, "Do you know

-what you need? A lead singer.

-"A female, preferably."

-"Come over next Thursday,"

-they said.

-I went over and I sang my socks off.

-"You're in," they said.

-Let's see you singing

-your socks off.

-# Flying like a bird

-through a screen of fog

-# Changing the channels,

-it's nothing but a fool's dream

-# This fire's never-ending,

-sparks everywhere

-# People looking at me

-# Where did I go?

-# This life is nothing

-but a hall filled with smoke

-# Boys grow old living bad lives

-# Girls in their short skirts

-showing some leg

-# Oh, if I could only go to the end

-# Of my life

-# Move, move on

-# Move, move on

-# Move, move on

-# Move, move on #

-Oh, dear me!

-You said you approached the boys...

-..and told them

-they needed a lead singer.

-Are you a pushy person?

-You need to be vocal

-to move on in this world.

-If I'm in a situation where I see

-an opportunity to further myself...

-..I say, "I'm available

-if you need someone like me."

-Or "I'm interested."

-I show willingness

-in a sensible way.

-I don't push myself

-in people's faces.

-There's a way to behave.

-Are you a confident person?

-I'm far more confident

-than I was years ago.

-I used to be

-a rather insecure person...

-..until I was around 50 years old.

-After that, I worked on myself.

-I decided to get rid

-of a lot of props in my life...

-..such as smoking

-and drinking alcohol.

-My life has changed since then.

-I still get

-a little nervous at times...

-..but I'm far more at ease now.

-It's important for me

-to be in touch with the real world.

-Aspects of my life

-are lived in a fantasy world.

-That's why I'm still single.

-I've had some long relationships,

-though!

-It has affected my private life.

-What I have in my private life

-are my dogs and a lot of friends.

-I enjoy my own company,

-to be honest...

-..more than I knew.

-When I was younger,

-I wanted a relationship...

-..I wanted someone with me.

-It's not as important now.

-I have a lot of male friends...

-..but I don't need a partner.

-Let's change the mood now.

-You played the part of a seriously

-ill mother in a series called Teulu.

-It was a difficult time

-for you personally.

-Yes, yes.

-The previous year,

-my father died of cancer.

-In this series,

-I played the part of Ann...

-..who was dying of cancer.

-Let's watch a clip.

-All that's left to do

-is sign the forms.

-You won't have to worry

-about it any more, Ann.

-The children will be safe with me.

-You'll have to live for me now.

-Do everything twice over.

-Give the kids two kisses each

-every morning.

-Will you?

-I'll be there with you.

-You won't get rid of me easily.

-What do you think

-is on the other side?

-It was a part that hit home for you.

-Well, it's strange

-the parts that come one's way.

-That fitted perfectly at the time.

-When I was offered the part...

-..I didn't know whether I wanted it.

-Dad had died the previous year

-but it was like therapy for me.

-Work can be therapeutic at times.

-After the series was aired...

-..I was nominated

-in the Best Actress category.

-I didn't expect it -

-it was a pleasant surprise.

-A lot of people thought I'd done

-a lot of research for the part.

-There was no need.

-I'd lived through the experience.

-I just played the part.

-I learnt my lines and did it.

-You've appeared regularly

-on Noson Lawen on S4C.

-Mrs OTT has figured

-very prominently.

-Mrs Olwen Tegwen Thomas.

-It must be nice playing a part

-that pushes you all the way.

-Every time I play Mrs Olwen Tegwen

-Thomas, I feel better afterwards.

-It's the best tonic you could get.

-I look as if I've had a facelift,

-afterwards.

-I use every muscle in my body.

-The double chin comes out.

-Oh!

-Afterwards, I feel like a swan.

-You're from Lampeter.

-Have you based Mrs OTT on a family

-member or someone from Lampeter?

-There are several people in Mrs OTT.

-There's a lot of me in Mrs OTT.

-I have to thank Ifan Gruffydd and

-Euros Lewis for these characters.

-When I was a little girl...

-..I'd go to Gwauncaegurwen

-to visit Nana Waun.

-We'd sit around the fire.

-Auntie Annie was Nana's sister.

-She lived in the electrical shop.

-Auntie Annie and Uncle Will

-were in the electrical shop.

-Auntie Annie would call

-to see Nana...

-..and would sit there

-smoking around the fireside.

-She wore bloomers.

-She'd enjoy smoking her cigarette...

-..and I'd impersonate her.

-She'd take ages to inhale the smoke.

-I'd think to myself,

-"Just smoke it!"

-I took all that in

-when I was 10 years old...

-..and I resurrected her character

-in a drama called Boyo...

-..with Ronnie Williams.

-He couldn't stop laughing.

-We'd sing in the chapel

-with delayed vibratos.

-# I ask not for... #

-That character was based

-on Auntie Annie.

-Then Nana Waun, "Act me

-putting the coal on the fire."

-That's all I would do and they

-would laugh their heads off.

-Can I stand up for this?

-I'd fetch the bucket

-from the kitchen...

-..and limp towards the fireplace.

-This leg would go out and I'd

-scoop the coal into the fire.

-They thought it was hilarious.

-I'd noticed

-how she stretched her leg out.

-It's almost slapstick.

-She was in pain.

-She had arthritis...

-..but she could laugh

-through the pain.

-That kept them going.

-I enjoyed making them happy.

-You've performed

-at the Edinburgh Fringe.

-Do you need to be in front

-of an audience to keep going?

-There's something special

-about being in front of an audience.

-I'd open an envelope

-just to be in front of an audience.

-If you don't do something in front

-of an audience, you lose confidence.

-The reason I went to Edinburgh

-was to perform for an audience...

-..who didn't know me.

-It was a challenge.

-What I took from the performance

-in Edinburgh...

-..was the sense that it made me

-stronger as a performer.

-Had I not gone there,

-I wouldn't be as I am today.

-We're going to see a young Mrs OTT.

-Here you are as Tomi's mother.

-Tomi?

-Tomi?

-

-Mam!

-Tomi? Where are you?

-Where have you been?

-Where have you been?

-

-Underground, Mam.

-Get out of there. What are you doing

-down there? Your feet are soaking.

-You look very pretty tonight.

-Are you off to bingo?

-Or is the milkman taking you out

-to watch that film?

-You've been five times this week.

-Excuse me.

-Ouch!

-How did you

-find yourself underground?

-We reached this place

-where they keep a lot of old women.

-What are you on about?

-What are you on about?

-

-A muse-e-mum!

-We were down there for ages.

-We were going around and around

-all these dark tunnels.

-Bleddyn said

-we might find Arthur's cave.

-I said, "Don't be so silly.

-"He lives in Yorkshire."

-Do you know what we saw first, Mam?

-A big board on the wall with

-colliers standing in front of it.

-Bleddyn said it was the coal board.

-I don't know how I kept

-a straight face working with Ifan.

-He's an actor and comedian

-with whom I loved working.

-He helped me so much.

-He helped me gain confidence

-to do comedy on my own.

-Going back to Tomi's mother...

-..there was one Noson Lawen

-where the producer asked me...

-..if I could perform

-as Mrs Thomas without Tomi.

-I didn't think I could do it alone.

-That was the starting point

-for Mrs OTT.

-I had to give this lady a name -

-Mrs Olwen Tegwen Thomas.

-She was Tomi's mother

-and she became Mrs OTT.

-She's almost a different character

-but that's how she came about.

-What's next for Gillian Elisa?

-What's next? Goodness knows.

-I'm available.

-I'm willing to do anything.

-I'm doing a lot of shows

-which last two hours.

-They're bilingual shows.

-All this has happened

-since I performed in Edinburgh.

-They're going down very well,

-especially with learners.

-I sing in Welsh and English.

-I sing River Deep Mountain High...

-..bilingually, bilaterally

-and by myself!

-On that note, thank you.

-It's been a great journey.

-Thank you.

-Until next time,

-from us all here, goodnight.

-# Remember

-# Remember #

-S4C Subtitles by Simian 04 Cyf.

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