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Liz Smith

Actor

Liz Smith

Born December 11, 1921 in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UKDied December 24, 201668 films

Betty Gleadle (December 11, 1921 – December 24, 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 (1975–1979), the sisters Bette and Belle in 2point4 Children (1991–1999), Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley (1994–1996) and Norma Speakman ("Nana") in The Royle Family (1998–2000, 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.

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The best way into Liz Smith's work
Secrets & Lies posterFirst watchSecrets & Lies19967.6as Woman with CatAfter her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory poster7.0Charlie and the Chocolate Factory2005Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit poster7.1Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005City of Ember poster6.4City of Ember2008The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover poster7.3The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover1989Oliver Twist poster6.8Oliver Twist2005The Duellists poster7.3The Duellists1977A Christmas Carol poster7.5A Christmas Carol1984Keeping Mum poster6.7Keeping Mum2005

Filmography

68 films as actor
  1. 2008City of EmberGranny
  2. 2008FlickMa
  3. 2006The Magic FluteThe Old Papagena
  4. 2005Keeping MumMrs. Parker
  5. 2005Oliver TwistOld Woman
  6. 2005Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitMrs. Mulch (voice)
  7. 2005Dead CoolLiz
  8. 2005Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryGrandma Georgina
  9. 2004NeroSoothsayer
  10. 2003Anna SpudGran
  11. 2002A Good ThiefLizzie
  12. 2001The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyPeg Sliderskew
  13. 2000Donovan QuickGranny
  14. 2000A Christmas CarolJoyce
  15. 2000The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage EscapadesDelfina
  16. 1999A Christmas CarolMrs. Dilber
  17. 1999Tube TalesOlder Lady (segment "Horny")
  18. 1999Tom's Midnight GardenMrs Willows
  19. 1999Alice in WonderlandMiss Lory
  20. 1998Wife of BathHag (voice)
  21. 1998The Revengers' ComediesWinnie
  22. 1998AnthrakitisDolly
  23. 1997Keep the Aspidistra FlyingMrs Meakin
  24. 1996Secrets & LiesWoman with Cat
  25. 1995HauntedOld gypsy woman
  26. 1994Doggin' AroundMrs. Thompson
  27. 1993Pretty Princessregina madre
  28. 1993Son of the Pink PantherMarta Balls
  29. 1992Dakota RoadJoan Benson
  30. 1991NonaAnyula
  31. 1990Drowning in the Shallow EndAgent
  32. 1989The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her LoverGrace
  33. 1989Apartment ZeroMary Louise McKinney
  34. 1989Bert Rigby, You're a FoolMrs. Rigby
  35. 1989Words of LoveGran
  36. 1988We Think the World of YouMillie
  37. 1988High SpiritsMrs. Plunkett
  38. 1988Jake's JourneyWitch
  39. 1987When We Are MarriedMrs Northrop
  40. 1987Little DorritMrs. Bangham
  41. 1987On the PalmMrs Slatterthwaite
  42. 1986HaremMrs. Pendleton
  43. 1984A Private FunctionMother
  44. 1984A Christmas CarolMrs. Dilber
  45. 1983Curse of the Pink PantherMarta Balls
  46. 1983Fanny HillMrs. Jones (uncredited)
  47. 1983Separate TablesMiss Meacham
  48. 1982Crystal GazingLady in Pub
  49. 1982Britannia HospitalMaisie
  50. 1981The French Lieutenant's WomanMrs. Fairley
  51. 1981The Monster ClubVillager
  52. 1980Sir Henry at Rawlinson EndLady Phillipa of Staines
  53. 1980Murder RapElfie
  54. 1979AgathaFlora
  55. 1977The Testing of Eric OlthwaiteMrs. Bag
  56. 1977The DuellistsFortune Teller
  57. 1977The Stick UpHotel Manageress
  58. 1977Spend Spend SpendKeith's Granny
  59. 1976The Hunchback of Notre DameLa Falourdel
  60. 1976It Shouldn't Happen to a VetMrs. Dodds
  61. 1975Keep an Eye on AlbertMrs. Oxfam
  62. 1975It's a Lovely Day TomorrowVi Bell
  63. 1975BreathMrs. Pritchett
  64. 1974Taking LeaveConfused Lady
  65. 1973Jack PointMrs. Matthews
  66. 1973Hard LabourMrs. Thornley
  67. 1972Bleak MomentsPat's Mother
  68. 1970Leo the LastRaving Tenant (uncredited)