Hillwood is the daughter of Mark and Angela Smith (née Angela Hill-Wood, granddaughter of Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, 1st Baronet).
Hillwood is best known for her roles as Lyn Turtle in the BBC TV series A Very Peculiar Practice and as Doctor Grayling Russell in the ITV detective series Inspector Morse.
[2] She also appeared in the HTV drama Robin of Sherwood in May 1986, portraying the Sheriff of Nottingham's sister-in-law, Lady Isobel.
She is married to Canadian US actor Matt Frewer (best known for playing the title role in Max Headroom).
[citation needed] Hillwood and Frewer divide their time between Malibu, California, and the Gatineau Hills of Quebec.