Person
Liz Smith
Acting · 1921–2016 · Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Biography
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.
Known for
The Graham Norton Show
Self
Wogan
Self
Casualty
Tillie
Screen Two
Mrs. Slatterthwaite
Play for Today
Mrs. Thornley
Tony Awards
Self (archive footage)
V.I.P.
Self - Gossip Columnist
Crown Court
1972
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Grandma Georgina
American Masters
Self
Filmography
- 2026Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top ModelSelf - Good Day New York (archive footage)
- 2010The Royle Family: Behind the SofaSelf
- 2009The Antiques Rogue ShowOlive Greenhalgh
- 2008City of EmberGranny
- 2008FlickMa
- 2008Lark Rise to CandlefordZillah
- 2007The Graham Norton ShowSelf
- 2006The Magic FluteThe Old Papagena
- 2005Keeping MumMrs. Parker
- 2005Oliver TwistOld Woman
- 2005Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitMrs. Mulch (voice)
- 2005Dead CoolLiz
- 2005Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryGrandma Georgina
- 2004The Paul O'Grady Show
- 2004NeroSoothsayer
- 2004Imperium: NeroSacrilega
- 2003Between The Sheets
- 2003Anna SpudGran
- 2002A Good ThiefLizzie
- 2002V Graham NortonSelf
- 2001The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyPeg Sliderskew
- 2001The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyPeg Sliderskew
- 2000Donovan QuickGranny
- 2000A Christmas CarolJoyce
- 2000The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage EscapadesDelfina
- 1999A Christmas CarolMrs. Dilber
- 1999Oliver TwistSally
- 1999Tube TalesOlder Lady (segment "Horny")
- 1999Tom's Midnight GardenMrs Willows
- 1999It's Only TV But I Like ItSelf
- 1999Alice in WonderlandMiss Lory
- 1998V.I.P.Self - Gossip Columnist
- 1998Wife of BathHag (voice)
- 1998The Royle FamilyNorma 'Nana' Speakman
- 1998So Graham NortonSelf
- 1998The Revengers' ComediesWinnie
- 1998AnthrakitisDolly
- 1997Keep the Aspidistra FlyingMrs Meakin
- 1997Trial & RetributionMrs Dorothy Norton
- 1996An Evening with Lily SavageSelf - Audience Member
- 1996Secrets & LiesWoman with Cat
- 1996KaraokeMrs Baglin
- 1995The Queen's NoseGrandma
- 1995HauntedOld gypsy woman
- 1995Crapston VillasDelia (voice)
- 1994The Vicar of DibleyLetitia Cropley
- 1994Doggin' AroundMrs. Thompson
- 1994PiratesGran
- 1994Takin' Over the AsylumHarriet
- 1993Shooting StarsSelf
- 1993Pretty Princessregina madre
- 1993Son of the Pink PantherMarta Balls
- 1992Dakota RoadJoan Benson
- 1992The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesDelfina
- 1991NonaAnyula
- 1991PerformanceAnyula
- 1991BottomFortune Teller
- 19912Point4 ChildrenBette
- 1990CluedoMrs. White
- 1990Night of 100 Stars IIISelf
- 1990Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His MusicSelf
- 1990El C.I.D.Mildred
- 1990Drowning in the Shallow EndAgent
- 1989The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her LoverGrace
- 1989Screen OneMrs. Thompson
- 1989Apartment ZeroMary Louise McKinney
- 1989Bert Rigby, You're a FoolMrs. Rigby
- 1989Words of LoveGran
- 1989Young Charlie ChaplinMrs. Greenwood
- 1988We Think the World of YouMillie
- 1988High SpiritsMrs. Plunkett
- 1988Jake's JourneyWitch
- 1987When We Are MarriedMrs Northrop
- 1987Little DorritMrs. Bangham
- 1987The Ruth Rendell MysteriesLena Finn
- 1987Valentine ParkMrs. Giles
- 1987On the PalmMrs Slatterthwaite
- 1986Worlds BeyondMrs Watts
- 1986The Life and Loves of a She-DevilMrs Fisher
- 1986CasualtyTillie
- 1986American MastersSelf
- 1986HaremMrs. Pendleton
- 1986LovejoyFlorence
- 1985Mann's Best FriendsMrs. Anstruther
- 1985Screen TwoMrs. Slatterthwaite
- 1984A Private FunctionMother
- 1984The Bill
- 1984A Christmas CarolMrs. Dilber
- 1983Agatha Christie's Partners in CrimeHannah Macpherson
- 1983Curse of the Pink PantherMarta Balls
- 1983Now And ThenGran - Then
- 1983Mr. RightGran
- 1983Fanny HillMrs. Jones (uncredited)
- 1983Separate TablesMiss Meacham
- 1982Trail of the Pink PantherMartha Balls (archive footage)
- 1982Crystal GazingLady in Pub
- 1982Mike Leigh: Making PlaysSelf (archive footage)
- 1982Britannia HospitalMaisie
- 1982WoganSelf
- 1981The French Lieutenant's WomanMrs. Fairley
- 1981The Monster ClubVillager
- 1980Sir Henry at Rawlinson EndLady Phillipa of Staines
- 1980Murder RapElfie
- 1979AgathaFlora
- 1978An Audience with...Self
- 1977The Testing of Eric OlthwaiteMrs. Bag
- 1977The DuellistsFortune Teller
- 1977The Stick UpHotel Manageress
- 1977Nicholas NicklebyPeg Sliderskew
- 1977Spend Spend SpendKeith's Granny
- 1976The Hunchback of Notre DameLa Falourdel
- 1976It Shouldn't Happen to a VetMrs. Dodds
- 1976The Duchess of Duke StreetNanny
- 1976Ripping YarnsMrs. Bag
- 1975Keep an Eye on AlbertMrs. Oxfam
- 1975It's a Lovely Day TomorrowVi Bell
- 1975I Didn't Know You CaredAnnie Brandon
- 1975BreathMrs. Pritchett
- 1975The SweeneyMrs. Davies
- 1974Taking LeaveConfused Lady
- 1974Seven Faces of WomanMadge
- 1974Bedtime StoriesMiss Long
- 1973Jack PointMrs. Matthews
- 1973Second City FirstsMrs. Murphy
- 1973Hard LabourMrs. Thornley
- 1973Last of the Summer WineHousekeeper
- 1972Crown Court
- 1971Bleak MomentsPat's Mother
- 1970Play for TodayMrs. Thornley
- 1970Leo the LastRaving Tenant (uncredited)
- 1969In Loving MemoryHilda Pardoe
- 1956Tony AwardsSelf (archive footage)
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