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Liz Smith (actress)

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Full Name
  
Betty Gleadle

Role
  
Character actress

Name
  
Liz Smith

Years active
  
1970–2013

Occupation
  
Actress


Liz Smith (actress) during her pictorial wearing a polka-dotted shirt

Born
  
11 December 1921 (
1921-12-11
)

Spouse
  
Jack Thomas (m. 1945–1959)

Awards
  
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, British Comedy Award for the Best TV Comedy Actress

Nominations
  
British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Performance

Movies and TV shows
  
Similar People
  
John Bluthal, Trevor Peacock, Franziska Troegner, Emma Chambers, Noah Taylor

Died
  
24 December 2016 (aged 95) Worthing, West Sussex, England

Betty Gleadle, (11 December 1921 – 24 December 2016), known by the stage name Liz Smith, was an English character actress, known for her roles in BBC sitcoms, including as Annie Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared (1975–79), Bette and Aunt Belle in 2point4 Children (1991–99), Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley (1994–96), and Norma Speakman ("Nana") in The Royle Family (1998–2006). She also played Zillah in Lark Rise to Candleford (2008), and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 1984 film A Private Function.

Contents

Liz Smith (actress) looking lonely while wearing a polka-dotted long-sleeved shirt

Royle family and dibley actress liz smith dies aged 95 1921 2016


Early life

Liz Smith (actress) during her first-ever cruise for BBC Four's Summer Cruise wearing a blue shirt and a necklace

Liz Smith was born Betty Gleadle in 1921 in the Crosby area of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. When she was two years old, her mother died in childbirth. Her father walked out of her life shortly afterwards, when his new wife did not wish him to have any contact with his previous life. She was brought up by her widowed grandmother and attended Crosby Junior School and the Scunthorpe Modern and Day Commercial Schools in Cole Street. During the Second World War, she served in the Women's Royal Naval Service of the Royal Navy.

Early roles

Liz Smith (actress) smiles while wearing a purple jacket

In 1971, aged 49, she had a career breakthrough when she appeared as the downtrodden mother in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments, part of Play for Today:

Liz Smith (actress) smiles while holding a glass in a movie scene from "The Royle Family, 1998"

The moment that my life transformed was when I was standing in Hamleys one Christmas, flogging toys, and I got a message from this young director named Mike Leigh. I was nearly 50 at the time, but he wanted a middle-aged woman to do improvisations. I went to an audition and I got the job of the mother in this improvised film – Bleak Moments, his first film – and it changed my life.

Barbara (Sue Johnston) and Nana (Liz Smith) in a movie scene from "The Royle Family, 1998"

Smith starred in It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow, written by Bernard Kops and directed by John Goldschmidt, which depicted the real-life drama of the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster during World War II. A role in Hard Labour followed. After that she appeared in Emmerdale Farm (as Hilda Semple), Last of the Summer Wine, Bootsie and Snudge, Crown Court, I Didn't Know You Cared and The Sweeney. She also appeared as Madame Balls in The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), but her scenes were deleted and remained unseen until Trail of the Pink Panther in 1982. She was seen in Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) in the same role.

Liz Smith (actress) smiles while being awarded an MBE for services to drama in 2009

In the 1970s and 1980s, Smith appeared in many popular UK television programmes, including The Duchess of Duke Street, Within These Walls, In Loving Memory, The Gentle Touch, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, One by One as Gran Turner, and The Lenny Henry Show. In 1984, Liz Smith received a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Maggie Smith's mother in A Private Function.

In 1980 Smith won a role in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End as Lady Philippa of Staines. She later appeared in the thriller, Apartment Zero, which was featured in the 1988 Sundance Film Festival. Smith played the role of one of two eccentric characters (the other is Dora Bryan) described by The Washington Post as two "... tea-and-crumpet gargoyle-featured spinsters who snoop the corridors."

1990s

Smith started the 1990s by appearing in 2point4 Children (as "Aunt Belle" and "Bette"), Bottom, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Lovejoy. In 1994, she played the lead role in the Children's BBC series Pirates and the supporting role of Letitia Cropley for seven episodes in The Vicar of Dibley. This made her a household name, but in the 1996 Easter Special episode the character died.

In November 1995, she made a guest appearance in the BBC1 medical drama series Casualty. In 1998, she starred in another sitcom, The Royle Family. This aired until 2000, but came back for a special episode in 2006 when her character, Nana, died. In the meantime, she had appeared in The Queen's Nose, The Bill and Secrets & Lies. In 1999, Smith was featured in A Christmas Carol as Mrs Dilber. She portrayed that same character in the 1984 version, and also appeared as Miss Lory in Alice in Wonderland.

Since 2000

Smith continued to act until ill-health beset her in 2009, appearing in such TV programmes as Trial & Retribution V and Doctors. In 2005, she played Grandma Georgina in the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and provided the voice of Mrs. Mulch in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, as well as small roles in Oliver Twist and Keeping Mum. In 2001, she appeared as herself in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

In 2006 Smith published her autobiography Our Betty and, around the same time, moved to a retirement home in Hampstead, London. In 2007, she published a series of short stories entitled Jottings: Flights of Fancy and appeared in the Little Man Tate music video "This Must Be Love". On 5 December 2007, Smith won the Best Television Comedy Actress at the British Comedy Awards for her role in The Royle Family.

In 2006 she made a cameo appearance in Kenneth Branagh's film The Magic Flute, a version in English of the Mozart opera. However, her role did not require her to sing. She portrayed Old Papagena who, later on in the film, magically transforms into Young Papagena (played by soprano Silvia Moi) and marries the birdcatcher Papageno (played by baritone Benjamin Jay Davis).

In 2008 she starred in the first series of the period drama Lark Rise to Candleford. That same year she was a castaway on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and was in the film City of Ember, which was released in October 2008. In July 2009 she featured in a one-hour BBC Four documentary called Liz Smith's Summer Cruise, where she joined a group of like-minded individuals on a cruise from Croatia to Venice. That same month, having suffered a series of strokes a few months earlier, she announced her retirement from acting at the age of 87.

In 2009 Smith was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

In 2010 she took part in BBC's The Young Ones, in which six celebrities in their 70s and 80s attempted to overcome some of the problems of ageing by harking back to the 1970s.

Personal life and death

In 1945 she married Jack Thomas, whom she met while on service in India. They had two children but divorced in 1959. Smith brought up her son and daughter on her own. She described this as an extremely difficult period in her life, as she struggled against financial difficulties and social disapproval of her status as a divorcee.

Smith died on 24 December 2016, thirteen days after her 95th birthday. Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning, said that Smith had "brilliantly captured the grandparent in everyone's family" as Nana in The Royle Family. Mike Leigh said "She was a complete breath of fresh air... she was not your bog standard middle-aged actress."

Filmography

Actress
2013
The Tunnel (TV Series) as
Harriet Stone
- Episode #1.3 (2013) - Harriet Stone
- Episode #1.2 (2013) - Harriet Stone
2013
Common Ground (TV Series short) as
Colin's Mum
- Colin (2013) - Colin's Mum
2009
The All Star Impressions Show (TV Special) as
Queen Elizabeth II
2009
The Antiques Rogue Show (TV Movie) as
Olive Greenhalgh
2008
City of Ember as
Granny
2008
Flick as
Ma
2008
Lark Rise to Candleford (TV Series) as
Zillah
- Episode #1.10 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.9 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.8 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.7 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.6 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.5 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.4 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.3 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.2 (2008) - Zillah
- Episode #1.1 (2008) - Zillah
2007
The Abbey (TV Movie) as
Elsie
2006
Keeping Mum: Funnies (Video short) as
Mrs. Parker
1998
The Royle Family (TV Series) as
Norma Speakman / Nana
- The Queen of Sheba (2006) - Nana
- The Royle Family at Christmas (2000) - Norma Speakman
- The Christening (2000) - Norma Speakman
- London (2000) - Norma Speakman
- Funeral (2000) - Norma Speakman
- Christmas with the Royle Family (1999) - Norma Speakman
- Antony's Birthday (1999) - Norma Speakman
- Nana Comes to Stay (1999) - Norma Speakman
- Sunday Lunch (1999) - Norma Speakman
- Wedding Day (1998) - Norma Speakman
- Sunday Afternoon (1998) - Norma Speakman
2006
The Magic Flute as
The Old Papagena
2005
Keeping Mum as
Mrs. Parker
2005
Oliver Twist as
Old Woman
2005
The Curse of the Were-Rabbit as
Mrs. Mulch (voice)
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as
Grandma Georgina
2004
Dead Cool as
Liz
2004
Nero (TV Movie) as
Soothsayer
2003
Between the Sheets (TV Mini Series) as
Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.6 (2003) - Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.5 (2003) - Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.4 (2003) - Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.3 (2003) - Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.2 (2003) - Audrey Delany
- Episode #1.1 (2003) - Audrey Delany
2003
Doctors (TV Series) as
Agatha Clifford
- An English Woman's Home (2003) - Agatha Clifford
2003
Anna Spud (Short) as
Gran
1984
The Bill (TV Series) as
Harriet 'Tatsie' Wright / Edna Finch / Mrs. West / ...
- 041: Gone Native (2002) - Harriet 'Tatsie' Wright
- 040: Jeopardy (2002) - Harriet 'Tatsie' Wright
- Sucking Eggs (1998) - Edna Finch
- Dead Man's Boots (1991) - Mrs. West
- The Drugs Raid (1984) - Maggie
2002
A Good Thief (TV Movie) as
Lizzie
2002
Trial & Retribution (TV Series) as
Mrs. Dorothy Norton
- Trial & Retribution V - Part Two (2002) - Mrs. Dorothy Norton
- Trial & Retribution V - Part One (2002) - Mrs. Dorothy Norton
2002
Animated Tales of the World (TV Series) as
Third Aunt
- A Story from Taiwan: Aunt Tiger (2002) - Third Aunt (voice)
2001
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (TV Movie) as
Peg Sliderskew
2000
A Christmas Carol (TV Movie) as
Joyce
2000
Donovan Quick (TV Movie) as
Granny
2000
City Central (TV Series) as
Megan Roberts
- Half Man Half Cop (2000) - Megan Roberts
1996
The Queen's Nose (TV Series) as
Grandma
- Harmony's Return (1999) - Grandma
- Episode #2.6 (1996) - Grandma
- Episode #2.5 (1996) - Grandma
- Episode #2.4 (1996) - Grandma
- Episode #2.3 (1996) - Grandma
- Episode #2.2 (1996) - Grandma
- Episode #2.1 (1996) - Grandma
1999
A Christmas Carol (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Dilber
1999
Oliver Twist (TV Mini Series) as
Sally
- Containing Fresh Discoveries, and Shewing That Surprises, Like Misfortunes, Seldom Come Alone (1999) - Sally
- Wherein It Is Shewn How Oliver Twist Came to Be Born in Such Sad Circumstances (1999) - Sally
1991
2point4 Children (TV Series) as
Bette / Aunt Belle / Bette and Belle
- Enter the Dragon (1999) - Bette
- When Did You Last See Your Father (1998) - Bette
- Two Years Before the Mast (1996) - Bette
- Vertigo (1996) - Aunt Belle
- Mayday (1995) - Bette
- Relax-ay-voo (1994) - Bette
- You Only Live Twice (1994) - Bette
- Babes in the Wood (1993) - Bette
- The Secret Diary of David Porter (1993) - Bette and Belle
- Misery (1992) - Bette
- I'm Going Slightly Mad (1992) - Bette
- Love and Marriage (1991) - Bette
1999
Tube Tales as
Old Lady (segment "Horny")
1999
Tom's Midnight Garden as
Mrs. Willows
1999
Ruth Rendell Mysteries (TV Series) as
Lena Finn
- The Lake of Darkness: Part 2 (1999) - Lena Finn
- The Lake of Darkness: Part 1 (1999) - Lena Finn
1999
Alice in Wonderland (TV Movie) as
Miss Lory
1998
Anthrakitis (Short) as
Dolly
1998
The Canterbury Tales (TV Series) as
The Hag
- Leaving London (1998) - The Hag (voice)
1998
The Revengers' Comedies as
Winnie
1997
A Merry War as
Mrs. Meakin
1994
Pirates (TV Series) as
Gran (Abigail Blood)
- Episode #3.1 (1997) - Gran (Abigail Blood)
- Episode #2.1 (1995) - Gran (Abigail Blood)
- Episode #1.1 (1994) - Gran (Abigail Blood)
1996
Karaoke (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Baglin / Mrs.Baglin
- Friday (1996) - Mrs.Baglin
- Wednesday (1996) - Mrs. Baglin
- Tuesday (1996) - Mrs. Baglin
1996
Secrets & Lies as
Cat Owner
1994
The Vicar of Dibley (TV Series) as
Letitia Cropley
- The Easter Bunny (1996) - Letitia Cropley
- Animals (1994) - Letitia Cropley
- Election (1994) - Letitia Cropley
- The Window & the Weather (1994) - Letitia Cropley
- Community Spirit (1994) - Letitia Cropley
- Songs of Praise (1994) - Letitia Cropley
- The Arrival (1994) - Letitia Cropley
1995
Casualty (TV Series) as
Tillie
- Hit and Run (1995) - Tillie
1995
Crapston Villas (TV Series) as
Delia (voice)
1995
Haunted as
Old Gypsy Woman
1994
Screen One (TV Series) as
Mrs. Thompson
- Doggin' Around (1994) - Mrs. Thompson
1994
Takin' Over the Asylum (TV Mini Series) as
Harriet
- Fly Like an Eagle (1994) - Harriet
1994
New Voices (TV Series) as
Nana
- Bad Voodoo (1994) - Nana
1993
Piccolo grande amore as
Queen Mother
1993
Without Walls (TV Series documentary) as
Maid
- For One Night Only: Margaret Rutherford (1993) - Maid
1993
Son of the Pink Panther as
Madame Balls
1993
Cluedo (TV Series) as
Mrs. White
- Publish & Be Damned (1993) - Mrs. White
- Where There's a Will (1993) - Mrs. White
- The Hanged Man (1993) - Mrs. White
- The Word, the Flesh and the Devil (1993) - Mrs. White
- Seven Deadly Sinners (1993) - Mrs. White
- Finders Keepers (1993) - Mrs. White
1993
Lovejoy (TV Series) as
Florence
- God Helps Those (1993) - Florence
1992
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV Series) as
Delfina
- Barcelona, May 1917 (1992) - Delfina
1991
Dakota Road as
Joan Benson
1990
Making Out (TV Series) as
Muriel
- Episode #3.6 (1991) - Muriel
- Episode #2.4 (1990) - Muriel
1991
Performance (TV Series) as
Anyula
- Nona (1991) - Anyula
1991
Bottom (TV Series) as
Fortune Teller
- Apocalypse (1991) - Fortune Teller
1991
El C.I.D. (TV Series) as
Mildred
- Paradise Mislaid (1991) - Mildred
1990
Dunrulin (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Trodd
1990
A Bit of Fry and Laurie (TV Series) as
Woman Returning Suits
- Episode #2.4 (1990) - Woman Returning Suits
1987
Screen Two (TV Series) as
Agent / Gran / Mrs. Slatterthwaite
- Drowning in the Shallow End (1990) - Agent
- Words of Love (1989) - Gran
- On the Palm (1987) - Mrs. Slatterthwaite
1989
All Change (TV Series) as
Aunt Mary
- The Bosom of the Family (1989) - Aunt Mary
1989
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover as
Grace
1989
Singles (TV Series) as
Mrs. Phelps
- Family Likeness (1989) - Mrs. Phelps
1989
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool as
Mrs. Rigby
1989
Young Charlie Chaplin (TV Series) as
Mrs. Greenwood
- Episode #1.4 (1989) - Mrs. Greenwood
1988
Jake's Journey (TV Movie) as
Witch
1988
High Spirits as
Mrs Plunkett
1988
Apartment Zero as
Mary Louise McKinney
1988
We Think the World of You as
Millie Burney
1987
Valentine Park (TV Series) as
Mrs. Giles
- Swarm! (1988) - Mrs. Giles
- Heroes and Villains (1988) - Mrs. Giles
- A Rose by Any Other Name (1988) - Mrs. Giles
- Who's Minding the Marigolds? (1988) - Mrs. Giles
- Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (1988) - Mrs. Giles
- No Particular Place to Go (1988) - Mrs. Giles
1988
All in Good Faith (TV Series) as
Annie Freeman
- And He Fell Among Thieves (1988) - Annie Freeman
1987
When We Are Married (TV Movie) as
Mrs Northrop
1987
Little Dorrit as
Mrs. Bangham, Midwife
1987
Bust (TV Series) as
Brenda Walsh
- Man of Property (1987) - Brenda Walsh
1987
Worlds Beyond (TV Series) as
Mrs. Watts
- Undying Love (1987) - Mrs. Watts
1987
Imaginary Friends (TV Mini Series) as
Milly Munger
- Episode #1.3 (1987) - Milly Munger
- Episode #1.2 (1987) - Milly Munger
- Episode #1.1 (1987) - Milly Munger
1986
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Fisher
- Episode #1.4 (1986) - Mrs. Fisher
- Episode #1.3 (1986) - Mrs. Fisher
- Episode #1.2 (1986) - Mrs. Fisher
1986
King & Castle (TV Series) as
Mrs. Chalmers
- Friends (1986) - Mrs. Chalmers
1986
Harem (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Pendleton
1985
Rainbow (TV Series) as
Auntie Liz
- Overhelpfuls (1985) - Auntie Liz
1985
Mann's Best Friends (TV Series) as
Mrs. Anstruther
- Episode #1.6 (1985) - Mrs. Anstruther
- Episode #1.5 (1985) - Mrs. Anstruther
- Episode #1.4 (1985) - Mrs. Anstruther
- Episode #1.2 (1985) - Mrs. Anstruther
- Episode #1.1 (1985) - Mrs. Anstruther
1985
Doctors' Dilemmas (TV Series documentary) as
Edna Bryant
- Buying Time (1985) - Edna Bryant
1984
A Christmas Carol (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Dilber
1984
A Private Function as
Mother
1984
The Lenny Henry Show (TV Series) as
Various Characters
- Episode #1.2 (1984) - Various Characters
1983
Now and Then (TV Series) as
Gran
1984
One by One (TV Series) as
Gran Turner
- Ends and Beginnings (1984) - Gran Turner
- The Woman's Touch (1984) - Gran Turner
- Doctor's Orders (1984) - Gran Turner
- A Long Weekend (1984) - Gran Turner
- Time and Motion (1984) - Gran Turner
- Pastures New (1984) - Gran Turner
- Silver Linings (1984) - Gran Turner
- They Shoot Tigers in India (1984) - Gran Turner
- Nature's Great Masterpiece (1984) - Gran Turner
- We Called in the Experts (1984) - Gran Turner
1983
Partners in Crime (TV Mini Series) as
Hannah Macpherson
- The House of Lurking Death (1983) - Hannah Macpherson
1983
The All Electric Amusement Arcade (TV Series) as
Gran
- Episode #1.7 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.6 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.5 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.4 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.3 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.2 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.1 (1983) - Gran
1983
Curse of the Pink Panther as
Marta Balls
1983
Fanny Hill as
Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
1983
Separate Tables (TV Movie) as
Miss Meacham
1983
Mr. Right (TV Series) as
Gran
- Episode #1.4 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.3 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.2 (1983) - Gran
- Episode #1.1 (1983) - Gran
1982
Give Us This Day as
Landlady
1980
In Loving Memory (TV Series) as
Hilda Pardoe
- Special: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1982) - Hilda Pardoe
- The Outing (1980) - Hilda Pardoe
1982
Russian Night... 1941 (TV Movie) as
Frosya
1982
Crystal Gazing as
Lady in Pub
1982
Britannia Hospital as
Maisie
1982
The Gentle Touch (TV Series) as
Edna Slater
- One of Those Days (1982) - Edna Slater
1981
The French Lieutenant's Woman as
Mrs. Fairley
1981
A Chance to Sit Down (TV Series) as
Mrs. Barker
- Episode #1.3 (1981) - Mrs. Barker
1981
The Other 'Arf (TV Series) as
Nora
- A Man of Property (1981) - Nora
1981
The Monster Club as
Villager (uncredited)
1980
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End as
Lady Phillipa of Staines
1980
Madhouse (TV Series) as
Various Characters
- Episode #1.7 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.6 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.5 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.4 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.3 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.2 (1980) - Various Characters
- Episode #1.1 (1980) - Various Characters
1973
Play for Today (TV Series) as
Elfie / Keith's Granny / Mrs. Oxfam / ...
- Murder Rap (1980) - Elfie
- Spend Spend Spend (1977) - Keith's Granny
- Keep an Eye on Albert (1975) - Mrs. Oxfam
- Breath (1975) - Mrs. Pritchett
- Taking Leave (1974)
- Jack Point (1973) - Mrs. Mathews
- Hard Labour (1973) - Mrs. Thornley
1980
Bernie (TV Series)
- Episode #2.3 (1980)
1979
Hazell (TV Series) as
Mrs. Scroop
- Hazell and the Public Enemy (1979) - Mrs. Scroop
1975
I Didn't Know You Cared (TV Series) as
Mrs Brandon / Mrs. Brandon
- The Great Day (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- What's in a Name (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- The Great Escape (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- Don't Answer That (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- A Tip Top Day (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- Love Is a Many Splendoured Thing (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- The Love Match (1979) - Mrs Brandon
- The Last Tram (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- Paradise Lost (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- Stout Deeds (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- A Bleak Day (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- Party Games (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- A Grave Decision (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- Men at Work (1978) - Mrs Brandon
- Good Wood, God! (1976) - Mrs. Brandon
- You Should See Me Now (1976) - Mrs Brandon
- A Signal Disaster (1976) - Mrs Brandon
- A Woman's Work (1976) - Mrs Brandon
- Chez Us (1976) - Mrs Brandon
- The Way My Wife Looks at Me (1976) - Mrs Brandon
- The Axe and Cleaver (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- Large or Small, Big or Tall (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- Aye- Well- Mm- (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- After the Ball Was Over (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- The Old Tin Trunk (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- A Knitter in the Family (1975) - Mrs Brandon
- Cause for Celebration (1975) - Mrs Brandon
1979
Agatha as
Flora
1978
Within These Walls (TV Series) as
Tottie Dowd
- Is There Anyone There? (1978) - Tottie Dowd
- Nemesis (1978) - Tottie Dowd
1977
The Stick Up as
Hotel Manageress
1977
The Duchess of Duke Street (TV Series) as
Nanny
- The Legion of the Living (1977) - Nanny
- Winter Lament (1977) - Nanny
1977
Ripping Yarns (TV Series) as
Mrs. Bag
- The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977) - Mrs. Bag
1977
The Duellists as
Fortune Teller
1977
Nicholas Nickleby (TV Mini Series) as
Peg Sliderskew
- Episode #1.6 (1977) - Peg Sliderskew
- Episode #1.5 (1977) - Peg Sliderskew
1977
The Punch Review (TV Series) as
Various Characters
- Episode #1.2 (1977) - Various Characters
1976
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (TV Movie) as
La Falourdel
1976
The Fortune Hunters (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Eady
1974
Crown Court (TV Series) as
Mrs. Flynn / Kitty Ross / Mrs. Fowkes
- Accepted Standards: Part 3 (1976) - Mrs. Flynn
- Accepted Standards: Part 2 (1976) - Mrs. Flynn
- Accepted Standards: Part 1 (1976) - Mrs. Flynn
- Two in the Mind of One: Part 3 (1975) - Kitty Ross
- Two in the Mind of One: Part 1 (1975) - Kitty Ross
- Hidden Scars: Part 3 (1974) - Mrs. Fowkes
1976
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet as
Mrs. Dodds
1975
Emmerdale Farm (TV Series) as
Hilda Semple
- Episode #1.278 (1975) - Hilda Semple
- Episode #1.277 (1975) - Hilda Semple
- Episode #1.276 (1975) - Hilda Semple
- Episode #1.275 (1975) - Hilda Semple
1975
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (TV Movie) as
Vi Bell
1975
The Dick Emery Show (TV Series)
- Episode #14.5 (1975)
1975
The Sweeney (TV Series) as
Mrs. Davies, Landlady
- Hit and Run (1975) - Mrs. Davies, Landlady
1974
David Copperfield (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Heep
- Episode #1.5 (1974) - Mrs. Heep
- Episode #1.4 (1974) - Mrs. Heep
- Episode #1.2 (1974) - Mrs. Heep
1974
Second City Firsts (TV Series) as
Mrs. Murphy
- The Festive Poacher (1974) - Mrs. Murphy
1974
South Riding (TV Mini Series) as
Nellie Huggins
- Take What You Want and Pay for It (1974) - Nellie Huggins
- The Powers That Be (1974) - Nellie Huggins
1974
No, Honestly (TV Series) as
May
- Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1974) - May
1974
Bootsie and Snudge (TV Series) as
Mrs. Partridge
- Up the Downstairs (1974) - Mrs. Partridge
1974
Omnibus (TV Series documentary) as
Mrs. Smith
- Joseph Conrad (1974) - Mrs. Smith
1974
Village Hall (TV Series) as
Mrs. Whalley
- There'll Almost Always Be an England (1974) - Mrs. Whalley
1974
Seven Faces of Woman (TV Series) as
Madge
- Polly Put the Kettle On (1974) - Madge
1974
Comedy Playhouse (TV Series)
- Bird Alone (1974)
1974
Bedtime Stories (TV Series) as
Miss Long
- Jack and the Beanstalk (1974) - Miss Long
1973
Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) as
Housekeeper
- Compo's Suit (1973) - Housekeeper
1971
Bleak Moments as
Pat's mother
1970
Leo the Last as
Raving tenant (uncredited)
Thanks
2020
The Vicar of Dibley (TV Series) (In Loving Memory of - 1 episode)
- In Lockdown: Compilation (2020) - (In Loving Memory of - as Liz)
Self
2011
TV Greats: Our Favourites from the North (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2011
Sitcom Does... (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Self
- Families (2011) - Self
2010
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa (TV Movie documentary) as
Self / Norma Speakman
2010
The Young Ones (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode #1.3 (2010) - Self
- Episode #1.2 (2010) - Self
- Episode #1.1 (2010) - Self
2009
Liz Smith's Summer Cruise (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2008
Christmas Cooks Challenge (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.2 (2008) - Self
2008
Mark Lawson Talks to... (TV Series) as
Self
- Liz Smith (2008) - Self
2008
A Taste of My Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Liz Smith (2008) - Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.5 (2008) - Self
- Episode #1.7 (2007) - Self
2008
The Alan Titchmarsh Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 18 March 2008 (2008) - Self
2004
The Paul O'Grady Show (TV Series) as
Self / Smee
- Episode #7.68 (2007) - Self
- Episode #7.32 (2007) - Self
- Episode #5.63 (2006) - Self / Smee
- Episode #5.26 (2006) - Self
- Episode #4.8 (2006) - Self
- Episode #3.10 (2005) - Self
- Episode #1.8 (2004) - Self
2003
This Morning (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 21 May 2007 (2007) - Self
- Episode dated 8 March 2007 (2007) - Self
- Episode dated 16 February 2006 (2006) - Self
- Episode dated 30 May 2003 (2003) - Self
2007
The British Academy Television Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2006
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #11.15 (2006) - Self
2006
Loose Women (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #10.2 (2006) - Self
2006
The Heaven and Earth Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 14 May 2006 (2006) - Self
2006
Behind the Scenes: Big Trouble in Little Wallop (Video documentary short) as
Self / Mrs. Parker (uncredited)
2006
Keeping Mum: Big Trouble in Little Wallop (Video documentary short) as
Self / Mrs. Parker (uncredited)
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Designer Chocolate (Video documentary short) as
Self
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Faces, Different Flavors (Video documentary short) as
Self
2005
Singing from the Heart: The Story of Treorchy Male Choir (Video documentary) as
Self
2005
The Making of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2003
Today with Des and Mel (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 2 April 2004 (2004) - Self
- Episode dated 11 November 2003 (2003) - Self
2002
V Graham Norton (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.21 (2002) - Self
1998
Blankety Blank (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #16.13 (2001) - Self
- Episode #14.10 (1998) - Self
2001
It's Only TV... But I Like It (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.3 (2001) - Self
2000
The Unforgettable Les Dawson (TV Movie documentary) as
Self - Actress
1999
So Graham Norton (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.1 (1999) - Self
1997
An Audience with Ronnie Corbett (TV Special) as
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
1996
Bottom Fluff (Video) as
Self
1996
An Evening with Lily Savage (TV Special documentary) as
Self - Audience Member
1995
That's Showbusiness (TV Series) as
Self - Panelist
- Episode #7.20 (1995) - Self - Panelist
- Episode #7.4 (1995) - Self - Panelist
1994
An Audience with Bob Monkhouse (TV Special documentary) as
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
1990
Hudson and Halls (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #4.2 (1990) - Self
1990
Wogan (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #10.62 (1990) - Self
1987
Nightlife (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.90 (1987) - Self
1978
The Stanley Siegel Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 7 March 1978 (1978) - Self
1974
You and Me (TV Series) as
Self - Presenter (1986)
Archive Footage
2020
Desert Island Discs (Podcast Series) as
Self
- Classic Desert Island Discs - Liz Smith (2020) - Self
2017
2016: Famous Faces We've Lost (Video short) as
Self
2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves (TV Movie documentary) as
Letitia Cropley (uncredited)
2015
Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms (TV Series documentary) as
Norma Speakman / Letitia Cropley
- Episode #1.2 (2015) - Norma Speakman / Letitia Cropley (uncredited)
2008
Lark Rise to Candleford: The Making of Lark Rise to Candleford (Video documentary) as
Zillah (uncredited)
2008
The Greatest Christmas Comedy Moments (TV Movie documentary) as
Norma Speakman (uncredited)
2008
50 Greatest Comedy Catchphrases (TV Movie documentary) as
Norma Speakman (uncredited)
2007
The Comedy Christmas (TV Movie documentary) as
Norma Speakman (uncredited)
2007
The Story of Dibley (TV Movie documentary) as
Letitia Cropley (uncredited)
2006
We Love the Royle Family (TV Movie documentary) as
Nana (uncredited)
2005
'Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit': On the Set - Part 1 (Video documentary) as
Mrs. Mulch
2002
The Real Vicars of Dibley (TV Movie documentary) as
Letitia Cropley (uncredited)
2002
The Jury (TV Series) as
Norma Speakman
- Episode #1.2 (2002) - Norma Speakman (uncredited)
2000
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades (Video) as
Delfina
1990
Nicholas Craig, the Naked Actor (TV Series) as
Self
- Awards (1990) - Self (uncredited)
1982
Trail of the Pink Panther as
Martha Balls
1982
Arena (TV Series documentary) as
Mrs. Thornley / Pat's Mother
- Mike Leigh Making Plays (1982) - Mrs. Thornley / Pat's Mother

References

Liz Smith (actress) Wikipedia


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