[2] As did her mother, who put herself through teacher's college in order to support her daughter's education and acting career Thus Hyland graduated in 1948 from the University of Saskatchewan with a BA in English.
[3] She earned a scholarship to and graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London England[1] where she won a silver medal for merit in passing her exams.
[1] Her roles included Portia (in The Merchant of Venice), Olivia (in Twelfth Night), Perdita (in The Winter's Tale), Desdemona (in Othello) and Ophelia opposite Christopher Plummer in an acclaimed production of Hamlet.
[1] As the leading Shakespearean actress in Canada, Hyland also used her position to champion Canadian actors' campaign for higher status and pay.
[2] On Sunday, July 11, 2004, Hyland was admitted to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada for respiratory failure from complications of a prior appendix surgery.