Linda Bassett
Biography
Linda Bassett was born in the Kentish village of Pluckley - location for the television series The Darling Buds of May (1991). She was brought up in Pimlico, South London, by her typist mother and police officer father. She became interested in acting as a child when she was frequently taken to see plays in London, most notably at the Old Vic, the famous classical theater. On leaving school, Linda went to work at the Old Vic as an usherette and catering manager, before going to read English at Leeds University. However, she dropped out after a year and became involved in a local drama group which put on plays in community-based locations, such as schools. She regards this as her theatrical schooling, having had no formal training. She made her London stage debut at the age of 32 in 1982 and, in 1991, joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Although she was a well-regarded stage performer, it was the 1999 film version of the play East Is East (1999) (in which she had been an original stage cast member) which brought her to a larger audience and, throughout the 2000s, she has been a familiar face in a variety of films and television series. In the late 1980s, she returned to live in Pluckley.
Known For

Midsomer Murders

Casualty

Call the Midwife

Heartbeat

A Touch of Frost

The Bill

Strike

Lark Rise to Candleford
All Movies (38)
- Bare Roots2026 · as Sue
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry2023 · as Queenie
- Careful How You Go2018
- Carnage: Swallowing the Past2017 · as Dr Yasmine Vondenburg
- Effie Gray2014 · as Anna
- National Theatre Live: People2013 · as Iris
- West Is West2010 · as Ella Khan
- The Reader2008 · as Ms. Brenner
- Cass2008 · as Doll
- The English Harem2005 · as Monica Pringle
- Colour Me Kubrick2005 · as Trolley Lady
- Separate Lies2005 · as Maggie
- Kinky Boots2005 · as Mel
- Spivs2004 · as Auntie Vee
- Calendar Girls2003 · as Cora
- This Little Life2003 · as Nurse Nina
- The Hours2002 · as Nelly Boxall
- The Martins2001 · as Anthea
- Don Quixote2000 · as Housekeeper
- Lounge Act2000
- Beautiful People1999 · as Sister
- East Is East1999 · as Ella Khan
- Far from the Madding Crowd1998 · as Maryann Money
- Spoonface Steinberg1998 · as Mrs. Spud
- The Life and Crimes of William Palmer1998 · as Mary Thornton
- Oscar and Lucinda1997 · as Betty Stratton
- Alive and Kicking1996 · as Doctor
- Mary Reilly1996 · as Mary's Mother
- Haunted1995 · as Madame Brontski
- Loved Up1995 · as Mum
- A Village Affair1995 · as Gwen
- In The Cold Light Of Day1994 · as Mrs. Loveless
- Skallagrigg1994 · as Susan
- A Small Dance1991 · as Sandra Matkin
- Let Him Have It1991 · as Mrs. Miles
- News Hounds1990 · as Virginia Lyddon
- Paris by Night1989 · as Janet Swanton
- Waiting for the Moon1987 · as Gertrude Stein
All TV Shows (21)
- Strike2017 · as Joan Nancarrow
- Spies of Warsaw2013 · as Maika Rosen
- The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby2012 · as Mrs. Smike
- Call the Midwife2012 · as Phyllis Crane
- Grandma's House2010 · as Grandma Lily
- Lark Rise to Candleford2008 · as Queenie Turrill
- Sense and Sensibility2008 · as Mrs. Jennings
- The Brief2004 · as Maureen Tyler
- dinnerladies1998 · as Peggy
- Far from the Madding Crowd1998 · as Maryann Money
- Our Mutual Friend1998 · as Abby Potterson
- Midsomer Murders1997 · as Eileen Carnack
- No Bananas1996 · as Ellen Slater
- Bramwell1995 · as Maud
- Kavanagh Q.C.1995 · as Miss Haddon QC
- Frank Stubbs Promotes1993 · as Eileen
- A Touch of Frost1992 · as Mrs Cornish
- Heartbeat1992 · as Beryl Palmer
- Casualty1986 · as Olwyn Humphries
- The Bill1984
- Dramarama1983 · as Meg Crawford