Liz Smith

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

Casualty

Tony Awards

Play for Today

All Movies (75)

The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa2010 · as Self
The Antiques Rogue Show2009 · as Olive Greenhalgh
City of Ember2008 · as Granny
Flick2008 · as Ma
The Magic Flute2006 · as The Old Papagena
Keeping Mum2005 · as Mrs. Parker
Oliver Twist2005 · as Old Woman
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005 · as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
Dead Cool2005 · as Liz
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory2005 · as Grandma Georgina
Nero2004 · as Soothsayer
Anna Spud2003 · as Gran
A Good Thief2002 · as Lizzie
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby2001 · as Peg Sliderskew
Donovan Quick2000 · as Granny
A Christmas Carol2000 · as Joyce
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades2000 · as Delfina
A Christmas Carol1999 · as Mrs. Dilber
Tube Tales1999 · as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
Tom's Midnight Garden1999 · as Mrs Willows
Alice in Wonderland1999 · as Miss Lory
Wife of Bath1998 · as Hag (voice)
The Revengers' Comedies1998 · as Winnie
Anthrakitis1998 · as Dolly
Keep the Aspidistra Flying1997 · as Mrs Meakin
An Evening with Lily Savage1996 · as Self - Audience Member
Secrets & Lies1996 · as Woman with Cat
Haunted1995 · as Old gypsy woman
Doggin' Around1994 · as Mrs. Thompson
Pretty Princess1993 · as regina madre
Son of the Pink Panther1993 · as Marta Balls
Dakota Road1992 · as Joan Benson
Nona1991 · as Anyula
Night of 100 Stars III1990 · as Self
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music1990 · as Self
Drowning in the Shallow End1990 · as Agent
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover1989 · as Grace
Apartment Zero1989 · as Mary Louise McKinney
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool1989 · as Mrs. Rigby
Words of Love1989 · as Gran
We Think the World of You1988 · as Millie
High Spirits1988 · as Mrs. Plunkett
Jake's Journey1988 · as Witch
When We Are Married1987 · as Mrs Northrop
Little Dorrit1987 · as Mrs. Bangham
On the Palm1987 · as Mrs Slatterthwaite
Harem1986 · as Mrs. Pendleton
A Private Function1984 · as Mother
A Christmas Carol1984 · as Mrs. Dilber
Curse of the Pink Panther1983 · as Marta Balls
Fanny Hill1983 · as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
Separate Tables1983 · as Miss Meacham
Trail of the Pink Panther1982 · as Martha Balls (archive footage)
Crystal Gazing1982 · as Lady in Pub
Mike Leigh: Making Plays1982 · as Self (archive footage)
Britannia Hospital1982 · as Maisie
The French Lieutenant's Woman1981 · as Mrs. Fairley
The Monster Club1981 · as Villager
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End1980 · as Lady Phillipa of Staines
Murder Rap1980 · as Elfie
Agatha1979 · as Flora
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite1977 · as Mrs. Bag
The Duellists1977 · as Fortune Teller
The Stick Up1977 · as Hotel Manageress
Spend Spend Spend1977 · as Keith's Granny
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1976 · as La Falourdel
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet1976 · as Mrs. Dodds
Keep an Eye on Albert1975 · as Mrs. Oxfam
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow1975 · as Vi Bell
Breath1975 · as Mrs. Pritchett
Taking Leave1974 · as Confused Lady
Jack Point1973 · as Mrs. Matthews
Hard Labour1973 · as Mrs. Thornley
Bleak Moments1971 · as Pat's Mother
Leo the Last1970 · as Raving Tenant (uncredited)

All TV Shows (66)

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model2026 · as Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
Lark Rise to Candleford2008 · as Zillah
The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
The Paul O'Grady Show2004
Imperium: Nero2004 · as Sacrilega
Between The Sheets2003
V Graham Norton2002 · as Self
Oliver Twist1999 · as Sally
It's Only TV But I Like It1999 · as Self
V.I.P.1998 · as Self - Gossip Columnist
The Royle Family1998 · as Norma 'Nana' Speakman
So Graham Norton1998 · as Self
Trial & Retribution1997 · as Mrs Dorothy Norton
Karaoke1996 · as Mrs Baglin
The Queen's Nose1995 · as Grandma
Crapston Villas1995 · as Delia (voice)
The Vicar of Dibley1994 · as Letitia Cropley
Pirates1994 · as Gran
Takin' Over the Asylum1994 · as Harriet
Shooting Stars1993 · as Self
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles1992 · as Delfina
Performance1991 · as Anyula
Bottom1991 · as Fortune Teller
2Point4 Children1991 · as Bette
2Point4 Children1991 · as Auntie Belle
Cluedo1990 · as Mrs. White
El C.I.D.1990 · as Mildred
Screen One1989 · as Mrs. Thompson
Young Charlie Chaplin1989 · as Mrs. Greenwood
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries1987 · as Lena Finn
Valentine Park1987 · as Mrs. Giles
Worlds Beyond1986 · as Mrs Watts
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil1986 · as Mrs Fisher
Casualty1986 · as Tillie
American Masters1986 · as Self
Lovejoy1986 · as Florence
Mann's Best Friends1985 · as Mrs. Anstruther
Screen Two1985 · as Mrs. Slatterthwaite
Screen Two1985 · as Gran
Screen Two1985 · as Agent
The Bill1984
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime1983 · as Hannah Macpherson
Now And Then1983
Mr. Right1983 · as Gran
Wogan1982 · as Self
An Audience with...1978 · as Self
Nicholas Nickleby1977 · as Peg Sliderskew
The Duchess of Duke Street1976 · as Nanny
Ripping Yarns1976 · as Mrs. Bag
I Didn't Know You Cared1975 · as Annie Brandon
The Sweeney1975 · as Mrs. Davies
Seven Faces of Woman1974 · as Madge
Bedtime Stories1974 · as Miss Long
Second City Firsts1973 · as Mrs. Murphy
Last of the Summer Wine1973 · as Housekeeper
Crown Court1972
Crown Court1972 · as Mrs. Fowkes
Play for Today1970 · as Mrs. Mathews
Play for Today1970 · as Keith's Granny
Play for Today1970 · as Mrs. Thornley
Play for Today1970 · as Mrs. Pritchett
Play for Today1970 · as Mrs. Oxfam
Play for Today1970 · as Elfie
Play for Today1970
In Loving Memory1969 · as Hilda Pardoe
Tony Awards1956 · as Self (archive footage)