Frances Hyland

 ( 1927 Births ) 

Hyland's dreams were clouded because her family did not have a great deal of money, but she always believed that she could achieve her dreams. . As did her mother, who put herself through teacher's college in order to support her daughter's education and acting career

Thus Hyland graduated in 1948 from the University of Saskatchewan with a BA in English. Profile, journals.hil.unb.ca; accessed January 28, 2015. She earned a scholarship to and graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London England where she won a silver medal for merit in passing her exams.

In 1954, Hyland was invited by the renowned theatre director Tyrone Guthrie to open his first season of Canada's Stratford Festival, playing Isabella in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. She went on to perform at the festival through the next ten seasons. Her roles included Portia (in The Merchant of Venice), Olivia (in Twelfth Night), Perdita (in The Winter's Tale), Desdemona (in Othello) and Ophelia opposite Christopher Plummer in an acclaimed production of Hamlet. As well, Hyland directed the Stratford Festival's 1979 production of Othello.

Hyland also performed with the Shaw Festival, the Crest Theatre in Toronto in The Living Room, and on Broadway (opposite Anthony Perkins in Look Homeward, Angel).

On television, Hyland co-starred in the Canadian television series The Albertans and played Nanny Louisa on Road to Avonlea.

As the leading Shakespearean actress in Canada, Hyland also used her position to champion Canadian actors' campaign for higher status and pay.

Hyland married George McCowan, a fellow Canadian actor and director. They had a son, Evan, in 1957. The couple separated shortly after.