Siân Phillips she was the first since Sarah Bernhardt to play the role. In 1957 (some sources say 1959) Phillips performed the title role in Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler". Many sources consider this her London stage debut but she actually did "Magda" before "Hedda Gabler". In September 1958 she was performing as Margaret Muir in John Hall's "The Holiday" at Oxford New Theatre. In May 1958 Phillips performed as Joan in G. B. Shaw's "Saint Joan", at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, which had opened just six weeks before, produced by Bryan Bailey. An observer described her performance: "Sian Phillips' portrayal of Joan
Alice de Sousa translated/adapted/produced and played Madalena in 'The Heiress of the Cane Fields'; translated, produced and played Joana in 'The Crime of the Old Village'; translated/adapted/produced and played Matilde in 'Thankfully there is Moonlight!'; produced and played Hedda Gabler in 'Hedda Gabler'; produced two different productions of 'The Merchant of Venice'; wrote and produced the internationally acclaimed, award winning 'Aristides – the Outcast Hero'; in 2010 produced 'The Importance of Being Earnest', and a second production of 'The Cherry Orchard'; in 2011 produced 'A Woman of No Importance', and a second production of her own adaptation of 'The Maias', again playing Maria