Stallybrass was born in
Westcliff-on-Sea,
Essex, on 4 December 1938, to Edward Lindsay Stallybrass (1905–1990) and Annie Isobel (née Peacock) Stallybrass (1911–1981), who married in 1933 in
Hackney, London. She was educated at
St Bernard's Convent, Westcliff and spent three years training at the
Royal Academy of Music, where she won the Drama Gold Medal. She began her professional acting career by spending several years in repertory, gaining experience in
Folkestone Kent, with the
Arthur Brough Players, before moving to
Nottingham and then to
Sheffield. The television roles for which she is best known are:
Jane Seymour in
The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970), and Anne Onedin in
The Onedin Line (1971-1972), written by
Cyril Abraham. In 1973 she appeared as a narrator in
five episodes of the BBC children's television series
Jackanory. She also appeared as Doreen Haskins, wife of
DCI Frank Haskins in the 1970s British police drama
The Sweeney. She had a minor role at the very end of the Hammer film
Countess Dracula. Other major roles include Anna Strauss in
The Strauss Family (1972), Susan Henchard in
The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978 adaptation), and Muriel Thomas in
The Old Devils (1992). From 1995 until 1998 she played Eileen Reynolds in ITV's period police drama
Heartbeat. She portrayed
Queen Elizabeth II, for
Diana: Her True Story (1993), the made for TV mini-series from
Andrew Morton's biography. Being a monarchist, she was initially unsure about taking the role, although her family used to tease her for bearing a resemblance to the Queen. She appeared in Midsomer Murders "Strangler's Wood" (1999) as Emily Meakham. She was twice nominated for the
British Academy Television Award for Best Actress; for her portrayals of
Anne Onedin and Anna Strauss. ==Personal life==