Þeo Þorman
Þeo Þorman | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Dorothy Thurman 28 January 1928 Crestone, Shalum |
| Died | 28 September 2018 (aged 90) |
| Alma mater | Imperial University of Etra |
| Occupation |
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| Known for | Weather girl for Gylian Television (1960–1970) |
Dorothy Thurman (Gylic transcription: Doroþeoi Þurmyn; 28 January 1928 – 28 September 2018), known professionally as Þeo Þorman, was a Shalumite–Gylian model, actress, and media personality. She gained fame for her weather reports for Gylian Television in the 1960s, where her sensual delivery made her an iconic figure of Groovy Gylias.
Early life
Dorothy Thurman was born on 28 January 1928 in a village in southern Crestone, Shalum, near the border with Gallagher state. She was of partial Æsthurlav descent, and came from a middle-class family, her father working as the president of a local bank.
The family left Shalum during the 1930s to escape war, and ultimately settled in Alscia, remaining there after it joined the Free Territories. She adopted the Gylic transcription Doroþeoi Þurmyn for her name, although it was slightly inaccurate, due to sensitivity regarding Gylian religious attitudes — the names "Dorothea" and "Theodora" commonly had the "theo-" component pluralised because their singular form was associated with monotheism.
She had an aptitude for drawing, and was educated in volunteer classes after formal schooling was abolished. Her initial plan was to become an artist, but as she later recalled, "People were always painting me, telling me I should become a model."
Her parents returned to Shalum after the Eracuran War, but she remained in the Free Territories. She adopted the stage name Þeo Þorman, and began working as a model and actress. Her first photoshoot led to her appearing on the cover of a local magazine. As a model, she was known for her blue eyes and red hair, leading to colour photographs of her being in particular demand. Fellow model Isabel Longstowe praised her appearance as "dramatic, Amazonian, almost aggressively sensual" — a quote Þeo would print on her business cards.
Gylian Television
By the end of the war, Þeo had remained largely an unknown, but enjoyed steady work in modeling and acting. The turning point of her career was an audition for Gylian Television, where she encountered Estelle Parker. Estelle was impressed by Þeo's voice, and hired her to present weather reports, which she did beginning in 1960.
Þeo's sensual, tongue-in-cheek delivery of weather reports quickly made her an audience favourite, and she became one of GTV's breakout stars. She would read the weather reports in a soft, sultry voice, emphasising her Shalumite drawl, against a backdrop of lush music — usually third stream albums played quietly from an off-camera record player. However, the main attraction of her segments was the lascivious quips and double entendres she interspersed in between, such as her famous "Elena will be very warm — and I'm just thrilled for poor Elena!".
Other memorable quotes included "In the morning—rain. In the afternoon—dew. In the evening—don't!", and "Temperatures reaching over 37 degrees in parts of Aðuna, southern Envadra…and my apartment".
Her weather reports aired before sign-off, and she would end them with "And from all of us at Gylian Television, sweet dreams", blowing a kiss at the camera.
Þeo became a household name in Gylias, her reports also being carried by Gylian Radio simultaneously. Doortje Koelewijn wrote that she "made the weather report sound like an irresitible invitation to an unforgettable evening". Gylias Review similarly commented in retrospect that her "skillful combination of sensual and sweet, alluring and adorable, made her a broadcast institution". Being usually aired before sign-off, her segments were affectionately thought of by many Gylian viewers and listeners as a soothing accompaniment to bedtime.
Þeo embraced her reputation, and often made cameo appearances on programs that spoofed or affectionately pastiched her style. One of the best-known was a parody segment where she peeked out from behind a shower curtain to announce, "The temperature in Mişeyáke is 20 degrees, and me, I'm 33–21–33." She proudly noted that she received fan mail from viewers of all sexes and genders, reflecting her wide appeal. She was one of Gylias' most recognisable broadcast voices — "to weather what Isabel is to trains", according to Cecilia Parker.
Later life and death
Þeo chose to retire from weather reports in 1970, joking that "the camera will become a cruel mistress soon". Her last broadcast was on 31 December 1970.
She moved to Kalyta, and largely lived in quiet retirement, apart from occasional bit parts and voiceover work. Her renown endured — she was still asked to do the weather in her sultry voice at parties and gatherings, which she obliged.
When GTV uploaded its archives onto NetStream, Þeo's weather reports were one of the most popular features, helping her gain a new generation of fans.
She died in her sleep on 28 September 2018 at her apartment.
Private life
Þeo joked that she never married because "I'm afraid it's because I'm like the weather — unpredictable!". She was in a long-term but stormy relationship with a fellow actress and nightclub singer, which lasted until her partner's death.
She was a practitioner of traditional Norse religion, and enjoyed pointing out that her surname was derived from Thor. She often wore a Mjölnir amulet.