Background
Hillwood is the daughter of Mark and Angela Smith (née Angela Hill-Wood). Through her mother, she is a descendant of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton, and thus, due to the special remainder of that title, is distantly in line for the Duke of Hamilton.
Career
Hillwood is best known for her roles as Lyn Turtle in the British Broadcasting Corporation television series A Very Peculiar Practice and as Doctor Grayling Russell in the television series Inspector Morse. They have one daughter. Hillwood divides her time with Frewer in Malibu, California, and the Gatineau Hills of Quebec.