Barbara trained for the theatre at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre school then joined the Old Vic Company in London. After working in provincial repertory theatres she returned to the Bristol Old Vic to play Rosemary in 'The Severed Head' and transferred with the play to the west end. She returned again to Bristol to appear in 'Love's Labour's Lost' and 'Henry V' then toured Europe and Israel with them. She returned again to bristol for further productions then went on an American tour in 'Measure For Measure' and as Ophelia opposite her husband, Richard Pasco, in the title role of 'Hamlet' After her return to England she had a big success in the 1968 West End production of 'Mrs Mouse Are You Within'. since then she's made many appearances at the Old Vic, the National Theatre and the R.S.C. at the Aldwych. She made her television debut in 1965 in a episode of 'No Hiding Place' followed over the years with appearances in episodes of such as 'Callan', 'Special Branch', Inspector Morse','Ruth Rendell Mysterie' and 'Kavanagh Q.C.' along with mini series of 'The Brontes of Haworth', 'A Perfect Hero' and 'Wives and Daughters'. Her film debut was made in 1972 in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Frenzy' which was quickly followed by 'Henry VIII and His Six Wives, in which she played Catherine Parr, and 'Bequest to the Nation'. Since then to date (2013) she's only made 6 other films the best known being 'Billy Elliot' in which she only had a small part