Acting
Dec 31, 1958
Swansea, Wales
Helen Griffin
Acting
Biography
Helen Griffin is a Welsh actress, playwright and screenwriter. Griffin was born in Swansea in South Wales in 1958 and initially studied to be a psychiatric nurse at nursing college alongside comedienne Jo Brand. She was a psychiatric nurse until 1986, when her passion for acting took over. She has appeared regularly in Welsh theatre and television and wrote and starred in the 2006 film 'Little White Lies'. She also appeared in the 2006 Doctor Who episodes 'Rise of the Cybermen' and 'The Age of Steel'. Her films include the 90s cult classics Twin Town, in which she played masseuse Lynette, and Human Traffic, where she played the role of the mother of the central character, played by John Simm. She died on June 29th 2018 at the age of 59.
Feature Films (14)
It's a big night at the New Dragon Inn when a coach of distinguished Germans arrives. But disaster looms - it's the local cricket team's annual fancy dress bash and the theme is the Second World War.
Sticky Wickets
Fresh from seminary school, a new Reverend embarks on his first parish: A small, low-maintenance chapel based in the idyllic setting of a quiet country village. While on the surface the village seems to be a peaceful parish, with perfect residents, soon it becomes apparent that something more sinister lurks beneath the façade of a local businessman. On a wet, cold night, a mysterious girl visits the Reverend at the chapel. She is welcomed in warmly, but soon it becomes apparent that her visit is not for sanctuary but to deliver a message, a message in the form of a deep, bloody bite... Awoken with an unknown, uncontrollable thirst, the confused Reverend can't find any evidence of the girl from the night before. With nothing but his thirst and memory of the bite, the Reverend embarks on a mandate to clean up the village and the neighboring estate...by preaching or feasting.
The Reverend
Directed by Caradog W. James and based on the play 'Flesh and Blood' by Helen Griffin, 'Little White Lies' deals with the paranoia of racism, the politics of hate and how these things threaten to tear one family apart. The father is an armchair politician who never leaves the house, the daughter has a new boyfriend that she won't bring home to meet her parents and the son has just become an active member of the BNP. The only person in the family trying to hold it all together is the mother, who just wants everyone to get along.
Little White Lies
Already deep into a second Cold War, Britain’s Ministry of Defense seeks a game-changing weapon. Programmer Vincent McCarthy unwittingly provides an answer in The Machine, a super-strong human cyborg. When a programming bug causes the prototype to decimate his lab, McCarthy takes his obsessive efforts underground, far away from inquisitive eyes.
The Machine
Two versions of Dylan Thomas' classic play "Under Milk Wood" were shot, with the same cast, one in Welsh, "Dan y Wenallt", and one in English. Directed by Kevin Allen, narrated by and starring Rhys Ifans, the films were shot largely in the Pembrokeshire village of Solfa during the summer of 2014. This surreal and erotic interpretation of Dylan Thomas' work is the first theatrical production of the brilliant, haunting radio play since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's 1972 film. Certain to astonish and excite in equal measures, this production reunites director Kevin Allen with actor Rhys Ifans over 15 years after the release of their cult classic "Twin Town". An ensemble Welsh speaking cast of familiar faces is led by Ifans as First Voice and Captain Cat, with Charlotte Church as Polly Garter.
Under Milk Wood
James and his three closest lifelong friends go on an ill-advised trip to the stunning coastal area of Barafundle Bay in West Wales. What follows is a touching and comical adventure dealing with friendship, heroism and love.
Third Star
In a small Welsh town where people talk to themselves we meet Jim, a lonely teenager who is given the chance to increase his popularity when a cool American kid moves in next door. Written and directed by Craig Roberts, who also plays the lead role.
Just Jim
As one of the rising talents of amateur boxing, Howard Winstone, a young Welsh boy from Merthyr Tydfil, was fast making a name for himself with his knock out right hand. A long professional fighting career surely beckoned? Then disaster strikes. An industrial accident results in Winstone losing three fingers on his right hand. Through sheer determination, and despite only being able to make a fist with one hand, Winstone develops a dynamic new style and begins boxing his way back up the amateur ranks eventually turning pro. Supported by his family and guided by new trainer, Eddie Thomas, Winstone becomes the Champion of Britain and then Europe. Now, with the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders, he is stood poised to challenge for the crown of Featherweight Champion of the World ...
Risen
The Armstrong Family - Ian (Whately), Kate (Gonet) and their children Tom and Molly live in a nice country house. But beneath this seemingly normal exterior, Maggie begins to suffer violent abuse at the hands of the normally placid Ian, with dreadful consequences for all the family.
Trip Trap
A small bingo hall is threatened by the opening of the country's largest bingo centre nearby.
House!
A sardonic tale of love, sex and female perversion - a succulent slice of modern sin.
Suckerfish
Jeremy and Julian Lewis, the "Lewis Twins", are two unruly brothers who terrorise the city of Swansea from the caravan park where they live with their family. When their father, Fatty, is injured while working on a roof for local kingpin Bryn Cartwright, they try in vain to claim compensation. Thus begins a campaign of terror, which local policemen Terry and Grayo are ill-equipped to prevent, involved as they are in a drugs deal with Cartwright.
Twin Town
Television & Series (9)
Three-part dark comedy series about three days in the life of a sandwich generation couple - a care worker and a limo driver - who have put their lives on hold for the sake of others.
Going Forward
The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.
Doctor Who
Essex and Wales collide when Gavin and Stacey fall in love - bringing their friends, family and baggage with them.
Gavin & Stacey
The Bench is an English-language legal drama series set in a Welsh magistrate's court, produced by BBC Wales, initially broadcast on BBC One Wales and later repeated across the BBC network in an afternoon slot. The series won three BAFTA Cymru awards in 2003, with Eiry Thomas winning Best Actress, Bill Broomfield winning Best Director of Photography - Drama and William Oswald winning Best Editor.
The Bench
A series of television adaptations of plays originally staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. The series, produced by HTV, ran from 1993 to 1997. It featured a variety of dramas, some of which were specifically written for the series.
The Sherman Plays
A series of television adaptations of plays originally staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. The series, produced by HTV, ran from 1993 to 1997. It featured a variety of dramas, some of which were specifically written for the series.
