| Iola Gregory | |
| Birth Date: | 15 September 1946 |
| Death Place: | Llandwrog, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1977–2017 |
| Known For: | Jean McGurk in Pobol y Cwm |
| Children: | 2 |
Eirian Iola Gregory (15 September 1946 – 21 November 2017) was a British actress. She was best known for her role as Jean McGurk in the long-running S4C soap series Pobol y Cwm.[1]
Gregory's mother, Millicent "Millie" Gregory, was a Welsh language campaigner for the Welsh Language Society who died of a heart attack. Her father, Oliver Gregory, was manager of National Westminster Bank in Aberystwyth.[2]
Gregory started acting professionally in the 1970s. In 1977, she co-founded Theatr Bara Caws, a community theatre in Caernarfon.[1] She began starring in S4C's Pobol y Cwm as Jean McGurk in a recurring role in 1987. She left the series in 1997, but made further appearances as the character in 1999 and 2002.[3] She was later cast in the S4C programmes Rownd a Rownd and Porthpenwaig.[4]
Gregory also had roles in the Welsh-language films Coming Up Roses (1986), (2003).[5]
Gregory was married to Welsh actor Robert Blythe until their separation. The couple had two daughters, Angharad Elen and Rhian Alaw. Angharad is a writer and television producer, and Rhian also became an actress.[5] She later in a relationship with poet Gerallt Lloyd Owen, and remained together until his death in July 2014.[6]
Gregory died with her daughters by her side on 21 November 2017 in Llandwrog, at the age of 71.[1] [3] [7]