Gerda Stevenson


Gerda Stevenson is a Scottish actress, director and writer, described by The Scotsman in 1999 as "Scotland's finest actress". She has played many parts in the theatre, including the title role in Edwin Morgan's English translation of Racine's Phèdre, and Lady Macbeth, and has appeared in many television dramas. She was Murron MacClannough's mother in the Mel Gibson film Braveheart, and her voice is familiar to listeners of British radio, as a reader of short stories and adaptations. In particular, she has performed several poems and songs by Robert Burns for the BBC.
Her play Federer Versus Murray toured to New York in 2012, and her poetry collection If This Were Real was published by Smokestack Books in 2013. She has adapted a number of works for radio: Self-Control by Mary Brunton in which Stevenson played the part of Laura Montreville; For the Love of Willie by Agnes Owens in which Stevenson played the part of Liza; The Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott for BBC Radio 4, nominated for a Sony Award in 2008, in which Stevenson played the part of the heroine Jeanie Deans; and Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. She has written radio plays including: Island Blue, Secrets: The Punter's Tale, Secrets: The Escort's Tale and The Apple Tree. She directed the Afternoon Play The Price of a Fish Supper.
Stevenson's partner is the Scottish Gaelic poet Aonghas MacNeacail.
Her father is the musician and composer Ronald Stevenson. Her sister Savourna Stevenson has recorded works on the Scottish harp, the clàrsach. She is a graduate of RADA.

Radio

DateTitleRoleDirectorStation
– The Bride of LammermoorBBC Radio 4
Watching WaitersBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
Fair KirstenMarilyn ImrieBBC Radio 3
The InterviewReaderBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Morning Story
Blood and IceMarilyn ImrieBBC Radio 4 The Monday Play
WitchwoodBBC Radio 4 Saturday Playhouse
The UpshotBBC Radio 4 Thirty Minute Theatre
The Secret CommonwealthPatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
Tam o'ShanterHamish WilsonBBC Radio 4

CamelotNimueBBC Radio 2
– The Last Days of MankindGiles HavergalBBC Radio 3 Sunday Play
– Telling LiddyBridiePam WardellBBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped OffMary, Queen of Scots / MarianMarilyn ImrieBBC Radio 4
Every Bit of ItGeorgiaSusan RobertsBBC Radio 4
A Hundred MilesBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
– The Prime of Miss Jean BrodieJean BrodieBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
– Inspector Rebus: The FallsJean BurchillBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 The Saturday Play
– Self-ControlLaura MontrevilleBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
The Whole Story and Other Stories: Gothic by Ali SmithReaderDavid Jackson YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading
– For the Love of WillieLizaBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
– The Gowk StormInnkeeper's WifeDavid Ian NevilleBBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
Wooden HeartUtaMary Ward LoweryBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
A Breath from Other PlanetsMathildeBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
Christabel's AnarchistChristabelBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Saturday Play
– Paul Temple and the Sullivan MysteryStevePatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
The Madeleine Effect: Mangoes by Joanna BlythmanReaderKirsty WilliamsBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading
– The Heart of MidlothianJeanie DeansBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
The Muse of Rose StreetReaderMonise DurraniBBC Radio 4
– Paul Temple and the Madison MysteryStevePatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
Distributing DaveBBC Radio Scotland Drama
The Three KnotsOld WomanKirsty WilliamsBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
– Paul Temple and SteveStevePatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
The Second Mr BaileyMargaretBruce YoungBBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
The Culture Café: Completely BurnsReaderEsme KennedyBBC Radio Scotland
The Book CaféReaderBBC Radio Scotland
Secrets: The Punter's TaleCaraBruce YoungBBC Radio Scotland Drama
Hume, the Philosophical HistorianReaderLouise YeomanBBC Radio 3 Sunday Feature
– A Case for Paul TempleStevePatrick RaynerBBC Radio 4
I Confess: The Power of the ConfessionIsobel GowdieLiza GreigBBC Radio 3 The Essay