Judy Matheson is one of the most memorable performers from the golden age of British horror – and much more besides.

Her appearances in classic Hammer films and other horrors made a lasting impression on many of us, but that was just a small part of her career impressive career on stage and screen.

So, what an absolute thrill for me, when she agreed to answer some questions for the blog.

AW: I believe your acting career started at the Bristol Old Vic. Can you tell me a bit about that experience? I understand it included some extensive touring, so it must have been an exciting time for a young actress? 

JM: I’m so pleased you asked about Bristol Old Vic, as it was such a formative experience for me. It was indeed exciting to be chosen and given my first Equity card. It was also my first experience of flying, which was also exciting. We flew all over the States, with a pause for playing a season on Broadway. Then on to Canada, Europe and Israel, playing Shakespeare.

We were feted wherever we went , with invitations to embassy parties and such like. We met some fascinating people, such as Robert Kennedy Snr, Louis Armstrong, Paul McCartney and many others.

AW: Your big break into films came with a major role in the 1969 Spanish art-house horror Las Crueles (The Exquisite Cadaver) alongside Capucine, a real global superstar. What do you remember about that experience?  

JM: The experience of working on The Exquisite Cadaver was wonderful. It was my first experience of proper feature filming and totally enthralling. I loved all my co-stars and totally fell in love with both Capucine and the Argentinian actor Carlos Estrada.

The director Vicente Aranda was a fascinating man, a true intellectual, and he made the whole thing a stimulating experience. It was chosen as the Spanish entry in the San Sebastián Film Festival. It was a terrific film, which was shown a couple of years ago at the Manchester Festival of Fantastic Films, to great approbation. I do wish someone would re-issue it.

AW: After that, you became one of Britain’s leading horror actresses, with Hammer’s Lust for a Vampire and Twins of Evil, as well as Crucible of Terror and The Flesh and Blood Show, all within a couple of years. Did you seek horror roles, or did producers come to you because of Las Crueles? This was perhaps a golden age for British horror. Did it seem like that to you? What are your memories? 

JM: I was never a ‘leading horror actress’ as such. My Hammer parts were really very small, but they have stood the test of time and are still much loved today, maybe even more so. And the other horror parts just dropped into my lap, as it were. I never tire of saying I was always just a jobbing actress; my agent would suggest me for a part, or a producer who had seen some of my stuff would ask to meet me. They were nearly always fun to do, interspersed as they were with lots of other types of work both on stage and TV.

AW: I’ve read that in the famous and horrific ‘burning at the stake’ scene in Twins of Evil, that was really you, and not a stunt person. Is that true? How did they do that scene? Did it seem that you were in danger? 

JM: The Twins of Evil witch burning scene has certainly become an iconic little piece, and it was just amazing to be working so closely with the great Peter Cushing.

It was always presumed that I would do the scene; stunt people were not even thought about. And no, it didn’t seem dangerous, because everyone was so careful and caring, the actual flames were further away than they looked, and there were fire officers on duty, by law I think.

AW: You’ve appeared in so many major TV series of all genres – Crossroads, The Professionals, The Sweeney, Citizen Smith, Blake’s 7. Do you have any standout memories from your TV work? 

JM: Seeing my TV work listed, I must say most bring back very happy memories. I absolutely loved doing Crossroads, it seemed like non stop fun living and working in Birmingham. Both The Sweeney and The Professionals were fun to do. Two things not mentioned are playing the part of Jane Williams, the poet Shelley’s lover, the location of which was in the exact house in Italy that the Shelley family were staying; that was a thrill. Robert Powell played Shelley, and it was directed by the great Alan Bridges.

And then I did two episodes of Z Cars two years apart, both of which I enjoyed immensely, but for the second one I had to be trained as a stripper! The BBC actually paid for professional stripping lessons!

And I can’t not mention one of my most favourite parts – playing a gipsy girl opposite one of my favourite and much loved actors Freddie Jones. It was a quirky little film written by the great Charles Wood and was actually ITV’s entry in the Monte Carlo TV Festival. That was a joy to work on.

AW: In recent years, you’ve made another horror feature, the independent production The Haunting of Margam House, alongside another Hammer scream queen from the ’70s, Caroline Munro. Are you still drawn to horror projects and how was working on a lower budget production? 

JM: I was very chuffed to be invited to do a cameo for the delightful Andrew Jones on The Haunting of Margam House, along with Caroline Munro and Jane Merrow.

Again it was just fun . Andrew was a lovely man and I think a terrific director, sadly taken from us all too soon.

AW: So, what’s next for you?

JM: I can’t tell you because there is nothing definite at the moment in the pipeline. There are a couple of dates in next year’s  diary, which will be publicised when the time comes.

AW: Thank you so much, Judy.

JM: Thank you for letting me sound off, and very best wishes for your blog!

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