Gabrielle Drake

Gabrielle Drake – Actress (F)

Biography / Gallery

Biography

Gabrielle Drake (born 30 March 1944) is a British actress, born in Lahore, Pakistan. She spent part of her childhood living in several Far Eastern countries before her family returned to Britain.

Classically trained, Drake has extensive experience in theatre, particularly in Shakespearean productions, and has enjoyed a long and varied career across stage, film, and television.

She is best known as the iconic Lieutenant Gay Ellis in the 1970 science fiction television series UFO. In the series, Lt. Ellis commanded Moonbase, which served as Earth’s first line of defence against invading flying saucers.

UFO

The striking visual identity of UFO included costumes worn by Drake and her female co-stars consisting of grey catsuits and mauve or purple-coloured wigs, a design choice that became one of the most recognisable aspects of the series.

Although one of the most memorable cast members, Drake appeared in approximately half of the episodes produced, leaving the series midway through production to pursue other professional opportunities.

Her film work includes There’s a Girl in My Soup opposite Peter Sellers, Au Pair Girls, and a 1985 made-for-television adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest.

On television, she has appeared in numerous British series including Coronation Street, The Brothers, and Crossroads, among others.

Drake has continued to perform in theatre throughout her career and has made occasional film and television appearances into the 21st century.

Nick Drake

She is the sister of the late singer-songwriter Nick Drake. In addition to preserving his personal legacy, Gabrielle Drake has contributed liner notes, interviews, and archival assistance relating to Nick Drake’s recordings and posthumous releases, and remains an important source of first-hand insight into his life and work.

Mailing Address

(Last publicly checked: 2010)

Gabrielle Drake
c/o Kerry Gardner Management
Douglas House
16–18 Douglas Street
London
SW1P 4PB
United Kingdom

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