Susan George Biography
Parallel to her film career, in 1972, her musical abilities where challenged in the highly acclaimed NBC production of DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, in which she played Annie the cockney hooker opposite Kirk Douglas. In 1977, she became one of only two women to be featured in a series of CBS sports specials entitled THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. Excited by her love of horses, the programme took her to Chile where she rode in a rodeo. Two years later, less daring perhaps, but equally adventurous, she appeared opposite Richard Burton and Bob Hope in her first all out comedy role, a sketch filmed live at the London Palladium for an NBC BOB HOPE SPECIAL.
Varied roles followed throughout the seventies including: the award winning OUT OF SEASON, a three handed black comedy with Vanessa Redgrave and Cliff Robertson; A SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS with Timothy Bottoms and TOMORROW NEVER COMES with Oliver Reed.
In the early eighties, she made the star-studded VENOM; ENTER THE NINJA, the first of the "Ninja" movies; THE HOUSE WHERE EVIL DWELLS, shot in Japan with Edward Albert Jnr, and THE JIGSAW MAN with Michael Caine and the legendary Laurence Olivier.
She then made a return to the stage to play in the French farce MOUMOU. The production was also filmed live for Showtime in Canada and her co-star was Robert Kline. Two years later, she was brought back to Britain from Los Angeles by theatrical impresario Bill Kenwright to play the cynical and world-weary Georgie in the West End production of Clifford Odets' THE COUNTRY GIRL, at the Apollo Theatre. Her performance was lauded by the press. Oscar Moore wrote in TIME OUT: "...George emerges a disconcerting enigma - as the quiet, bitter, but loyal wife she fascinates..."
At this time George was still living in California, but not long after, in 1986, she decided to return to Britain with her husband Simon MacCorkindale, (BBC's Casualty) to form Amy International (named after her role in Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs). After thirty years in front of the cameras she had decided to also work behind them.
In 1987, she was Executive Producer of STEALING HEAVEN, the first Amy Production with European partners Jadran of then Yugoslavia. The film tells the story of twelfth century French lovers Abelard and Heloise and starred Denholm Elliott. It successfully launched the new company into the International market place.