Sylvia Anderson

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For complete histories of her work with Gerry Anderson, and of AP Films/Century 21 Productions see the linked articles.

Sylvia Anderson (neé Thamm) is a British voice artist and producer, most notable for her collaborations with Gerry Anderson. She created the characters for several of the series, voiced female roles in many series, most memorably Lady Penelope in the Thunderbirds television series and subsequent films, and was most influential in the creation of Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons. The couple married in 1960 and were divorced in 1980 following a 5-year separation.

As Sylvia Thamm, she and Gerry Anderson met when they both worked for Polytechnic films, she as a secretary, he as an editor/director. When Anderson and his colleague Arthur Provis created AP Films following the collapse of Polytechnic in 1957, Sylvia followed them in company with John Read and Reg Hill. She became Anderson's second wife shortly after, in 1960, and slowly became involved in production duties.

The creative partnership with Gerry Anderson concluded when their marriage broke down during the production of the first series of in 1975; Gerry announced his intention to separate on the evening of the wrap party, following which Sylvia severed her ties with the production company.

Unlike her former husband, Sylvia Anderson tends to avoid the limelight, although she has written an autobiography titled Yes M'LadyYes M'Lady by Sylvia Anderson; ISBN 1-85-685011-0 covering the Thunderbirds era. Until recently, Sylvia worked as the UK representative for HBO and her new book, My Fab Years is to be published in the autumn of 2006.

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