Liz Smith

Liz Smith

Acting

December 11, 1921 — December 24, 2016Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK

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

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2005

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

2005

City of Ember

City of Ember

2008

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

2005

Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies

1996

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

1989

The Duellists

The Duellists

1977

Keeping Mum

Keeping Mum

2005

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

1984

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

1999

Acting132

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model

2026

Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)

The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa

The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa

2010

Self

The Antiques Rogue Show

The Antiques Rogue Show

2009

Olive Greenhalgh

City of Ember

City of Ember

2008

Granny

Flick

Flick

2008

Ma

Lark Rise to Candleford

Lark Rise to Candleford

2008

Zillah

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

2007

Self

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute

2006

The Old Papagena

Keeping Mum

Keeping Mum

2005

Mrs. Parker

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

2005

Old Woman

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

2005

Mrs. Mulch (voice)

Dead Cool

Dead Cool

2005

Liz

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2005

Grandma Georgina

The Paul O'Grady Show

The Paul O'Grady Show

2004

Nero

Nero

2004

Soothsayer

Imperium: Nero

Imperium: Nero

2004

Sacrilega

Between The Sheets

Between The Sheets

2003

Anna Spud

Anna Spud

2003

Gran

A Good Thief

2002

Lizzie

V Graham Norton

V Graham Norton

2002

Self

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

2001

Peg Sliderskew

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

2001

Peg Sliderskew

Donovan Quick

Donovan Quick

2000

Granny

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

2000

Joyce

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades

2000

Delfina

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

1999

Mrs. Dilber

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

1999

Sally

Tube Tales

Tube Tales

1999

Older Lady (segment "Horny")

Tom's Midnight Garden

Tom's Midnight Garden

1999

Mrs Willows

It's Only TV But I Like It

It's Only TV But I Like It

1999

Self

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

1999

Miss Lory

V.I.P.

V.I.P.

1998

Self - Gossip Columnist

Wife of Bath

Wife of Bath

1998

Hag (voice)

The Royle Family

The Royle Family

1998

Norma 'Nana' Speakman

So Graham Norton

So Graham Norton

1998

Self

The Revengers' Comedies

The Revengers' Comedies

1998

Winnie

Anthrakitis

1998

Dolly

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

1997

Mrs Meakin

Trial & Retribution

Trial & Retribution

1997

Mrs Dorothy Norton

An Evening with Lily Savage

An Evening with Lily Savage

1996

Self - Audience Member

Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies

1996

Woman with Cat

Karaoke

Karaoke

1996

Mrs Baglin

The Queen's Nose

The Queen's Nose

1995

Grandma

Haunted

Haunted

1995

Old gypsy woman

Crapston Villas

Crapston Villas

1995

Delia (voice)

The Vicar of Dibley

The Vicar of Dibley

1994

Letitia Cropley

Doggin' Around

Doggin' Around

1994

Mrs. Thompson

Pirates

Pirates

1994

Gran

Takin' Over the Asylum

Takin' Over the Asylum

1994

Harriet

Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars

1993

Self

Pretty Princess

Pretty Princess

1993

regina madre

Son of the Pink Panther

Son of the Pink Panther

1993

Marta Balls

Dakota Road

1992

Joan Benson

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

1992

Delfina

Nona

1991

Anyula

Performance

Performance

1991

Anyula

Bottom

Bottom

1991

Fortune Teller

2Point4 Children

2Point4 Children

1991

Bette / Auntie Belle

Cluedo

Cluedo

1990

Mrs. White

Night of 100 Stars III

Night of 100 Stars III

1990

Self

Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music

Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music

1990

Self

El C.I.D.

1990

Mildred

Drowning in the Shallow End

Drowning in the Shallow End

1990

Agent

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

1989

Grace

Screen One

Screen One

1989

Mrs. Thompson

Apartment Zero

Apartment Zero

1989

Mary Louise McKinney

Bert Rigby, You're a Fool

Bert Rigby, You're a Fool

1989

Mrs. Rigby

Words of Love

Words of Love

1989

Gran

Young Charlie Chaplin

Young Charlie Chaplin

1989

Mrs. Greenwood

We Think the World of You

We Think the World of You

1988

Millie

High Spirits

High Spirits

1988

Mrs. Plunkett

Jake's Journey

Jake's Journey

1988

Witch

When We Are Married

When We Are Married

1987

Mrs Northrop

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit

1987

Mrs. Bangham

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

1987

Lena Finn

Valentine Park

Valentine Park

1987

Mrs. Giles

On the Palm

On the Palm

1987

Mrs Slatterthwaite

Worlds Beyond

Worlds Beyond

1986

Mrs Watts

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil

1986

Mrs Fisher

Casualty

Casualty

1986

Tillie

American Masters

American Masters

1986

Self

Harem

Harem

1986

Mrs. Pendleton

Lovejoy

Lovejoy

1986

Florence

Mann's Best Friends

Mann's Best Friends

1985

Mrs. Anstruther

Screen Two

Screen Two

1985

Mrs. Slatterthwaite / Gran / Agent

A Private Function

A Private Function

1984

Mother

The Bill

The Bill

1984

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

1984

Mrs. Dilber

Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime

Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime

1983

Hannah Macpherson

Curse of the Pink Panther

Curse of the Pink Panther

1983

Marta Balls

Now And Then

1983

Gran - Then

Mr. Right

1983

Gran

Fanny Hill

Fanny Hill

1983

Mrs. Jones (uncredited)

Separate Tables

Separate Tables

1983

Miss Meacham

Trail of the Pink Panther

Trail of the Pink Panther

1982

Martha Balls (archive footage)

Crystal Gazing

Crystal Gazing

1982

Lady in Pub

Mike Leigh: Making Plays

Mike Leigh: Making Plays

1982

Self (archive footage)

Britannia Hospital

Britannia Hospital

1982

Maisie

Wogan

Wogan

1982

Self

The French Lieutenant's Woman

The French Lieutenant's Woman

1981

Mrs. Fairley

The Monster Club

The Monster Club

1981

Villager

Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

Sir Henry at Rawlinson End

1980

Lady Phillipa of Staines

Murder Rap

Murder Rap

1980

Elfie

Agatha

Agatha

1979

Flora

An Audience with...

An Audience with...

1978

Self

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite

1977

Mrs. Bag

The Duellists

The Duellists

1977

Fortune Teller

The Stick Up

The Stick Up

1977

Hotel Manageress

Nicholas Nickleby

Nicholas Nickleby

1977

Peg Sliderskew

Spend Spend Spend

Spend Spend Spend

1977

Keith's Granny

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1976

La Falourdel

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet

1976

Mrs. Dodds

The Duchess of Duke Street

The Duchess of Duke Street

1976

Nanny

Ripping Yarns

Ripping Yarns

1976

Mrs. Bag

Keep an Eye on Albert

Keep an Eye on Albert

1975

Mrs. Oxfam

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow

1975

Vi Bell

I Didn't Know You Cared

I Didn't Know You Cared

1975

Annie Brandon

Breath

Breath

1975

Mrs. Pritchett

The Sweeney

The Sweeney

1975

Mrs. Davies

Taking Leave

Taking Leave

1974

Confused Lady

Seven Faces of Woman

Seven Faces of Woman

1974

Madge

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories

1974

Miss Long

Jack Point

Jack Point

1973

Mrs. Matthews

Second City Firsts

Second City Firsts

1973

Mrs. Murphy

Hard Labour

Hard Labour

1973

Mrs. Thornley

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

1973

Housekeeper

Crown Court

Crown Court

1972

Mrs. Fowkes

Bleak Moments

Bleak Moments

1971

Pat's Mother

Play for Today

Play for Today

1970

Mrs. Mathews / Elfie / Mrs. Oxfam / Mrs. Thornley / Mrs. Pritchett / Keith's Granny

Leo the Last

Leo the Last

1970

Raving Tenant (uncredited)

In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory

1969

Hilda Pardoe

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956

Self (archive footage)