Angharad Rees
A Welsh actress whose spirited portrayal of Demelza in 'Poldark' made her a defining romantic heroine of 1970s British television.
1944–2012 (age 68)·British actress·Birthday: July 16·The Silent Generation
Biography
Angharad Rees brought a fiery, naturalistic energy to period drama, most famously as Demelza Carne in the BBC's 1970s adaptation of 'Poldark.' Her performance, capturing the character's journey from a ragged kitchen maid to a resilient miner's wife, captivated audiences and made her a star. While that role defined her public image, Rees had a varied career on stage and screen, appearing in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary thrillers. Later in life, she stepped away from acting to pursue a second successful career as a jewelry designer, creating delicate, Celtic-inspired pieces. Her legacy remains intertwined with the windswept cliffs of Cornwall and a character whose strength and passion she embodied completely.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Angharad was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angharad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
Angharad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Died at 68
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Starred as Demelza Poldark in the popular 1970s BBC television series 'Poldark,' a role that brought her widespread fame.
- Appeared in numerous British television series including 'The Onedin Line,' 'The Persuaders!,' and 'Armchair Theatre.'
- Had a successful second career as a jewelry designer, launching her own company and exhibiting her work.
- Published an autobiography, 'A Life in Jewellery,' detailing her design work and career.
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Christopher Cazenove from 1973 to 1994.
Her father was a Welsh poet and academic, Professor Brinley Rees.
She turned down an offer to reprise her role as Demelza in a later 'Poldark' series.
She was fluent in both Welsh and English.
“I never wanted to be a star; I just wanted to be true to the part.”
