Long shot - who is this actress? - Got it! Name on page 3

Equally long shot... Jane Wymark, best known as Joyce Barnaby in Midsomer Murders?

ETA: Strike that. Didn't read the early 40s bit. What length of hair?

Thanks for trying Hoobs....this really is a clutching at straws game!

Shoulder length hair.

Carol Royal?

http://www.jeet-kune-do.info/steve_powell_stunts/tuxworrior/tx_2.jpg

No, but thanks.

Hermione Norris? I just watched an old wire in the blood last night.

Hermione Norris?

SNAP!

No, but thanks for trying.

Do you think she has been in a drama or a comedy?

Emilia Fox? (Don't think she'd thank me for that though as she's only 34!)

This might help if you can be bothered trawling through;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_actresses

Drama I think. But not 'drama' drama as in Prime Suspect etc, but more drama serial (eg soap) so 'fluffy' drama.

Maggie O'Neill?

http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/sheila1.jpg

Amanda Redman?

http://shinymedia.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/30/116005.jpg

Sorry, but no to all of the above. I've even trawled through possibles on the A-Z list (most of whom are 20 something Hollyoaks actresses)

I've given in and emailed the author (who is also an actor) who gave the talk. This isn't quite as random as it sounds, as he has a facebook group which I'm a member of, and we have exchanged emails previously, and we had a chat at the talk so I'm not a complete random stranger when he gets my bizarre facebook email. It is still pretty random though but I NEED TO KNOW!

Feel free to keep guessing though as he may well not know, or not want to tell me due to respecting her anonymity.

I'm off to bed now though but will check back tomorrow. If I don't, you know they've come to take me away on the grounds of weirdness.

Mmm, do you think she would have been local or was it the kinda thing she would have travelled to? If local, that could possible narrow it done a bit more.

Now you've got me wondering who it could be!

Not the one who used to be in Cold Feet?

Samantha Janis?

Is it the lady who starred in the coffee ads and then in Holby City? I think her name is Sharon Maughan. Or could it be Jane Asher who was also in Holby City? Actually they may be a little older than you were thinking, so probably not, but worth a try.

No to Samantha Janus, Sharon Maughan, Jayne Asher and Cold Feet lady (Hermione Norris) I'd have got all these so I don't think it was anyone 'that' famous. I'm thinking she played a wife of a regular character, rather than the main character herself. I'm almost wondering if I may not recognise the real name if I get it, but just the character name.

VS - it was in Stratford upon Avon as part of the recent literary festival if that helps.

I've not heard anything back from my bizarre FB message yet!

Amanda Donohoe?

https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a155569/donohoe-not-interested-in-having-kids/

No to Amanda Donahoe

Lysette Anthony? Tina Hobley? Is she a highbrow actress or a bit soapy?

Could she be appearing in something at the RSC and popped along to the festival? May be worth a look on their website?

This sounds like the festival you possibly went to

http://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/

Could it be any of these (No-nos crossed out)

Highlights of the 2009 Festival included:

Pam Ayres

Melvyn Bragg

Gyles Brandreth

Julian Clary

Gloria Hunniford

Roy Hattersley

Felix Dennis
Libby Purves OBE

Jasvinder Sanghera

David Nicholls
Deborah Moggach

Stuart Maconie

Professor Jonathan Bate

Ben Crystal
Zoe Lewis

Ginny Davis

Jill Fraser

Philip Reeve

Philip Ardagh

MG Harris

Dan Freedman

Christopher Rush

Julia Golding

Angela Woolfe

John Fardell and many others

No to Lysette Anthony and Tina Hobley.

Gah, I'm sorry to have dragged you all into this as well.

She's a 'bit soapy' I think.

She's not in the current RSC ensemble as I've checked that already.

Thanks JCG - good detective work but none of those

Sarah Lancashire?

Fay Ripley?

Gaah, I have to know who it is now!

Right - could these questions help jog your memory?

She has been in a light-hearted drama that is modern day - not a main character but possibly a wife of the main character . Could it be something like Midsummer Murders? Do you think evening weekday programme rather than a daytime show like Doctor?

Definitely TV not film or stage?

Do you think she has an accent in the programme or can you link her to a location - even urban or rural setting?

Do you think she has been on tv recently, or are we talking a few years ago?

You should have snapped her picture with a mobile ?

Keeley Hawes?

http://www.belowbelief.com/archives/keeley_hawes.jpg

I'm sooooo sorry VS to drag you into this, and everyone else.

No to Fay Ripley, Sarah Lancashire and Keeley Hawes.

I've never watched MSM but I do think evening rather than daytime show as I don't watch daytime TV.

I don' think she has a discernible accent.

On TV in the last couple of years.

I had a camera with me and tried to work out if I could take a sneaky shot of her in the background of a main ***, but couldn't!

If I ever get this, you'll probably all go "Who?".....and no, I don't think she's been in Doctor Who!