Kate Williams

Kate Williams (born 12 December 1941) is an English actress best known for playing Joan Booth in Love Thy Neighbour (1972–1976) and Liz Turner in EastEnders (2006–2010).

She has also played Dorothy Burgess in May to December (1989–1994), Myra Costello in Family Affairs (2003–2005) and Auntie Vera in Birds of a Feather (2015–2016) as well as roles in the films Holiday on the Buses (1973) and Quadrophenia (1979).

Career Williams is known for three television roles: Joan Booth in the 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour; Teresa in the 1971 BBC play Edna, the Inebriate Woman; and Audrey Withey in the crime drama Widows. She reprised the role of Audrey in both Widows 2 (1985), and 1995 sequel She's Out. In addition to her appearance in Holiday on the Buses, in which she played the Holiday Camp nurse, she had previously appeared as Wendy, a brassy conductress, in the fourth episode of the fourth series of On the Buses, the episode entitled "The Other Woman"', and in an earlier episode titled "Late Again"' as a different character called Doreen.

Williams starred in the film version of Love Thy Neighbour (1973), and played Mrs Perkins in the film Melody (1971). Her other film credits include: Poor Cow (1967), Till Death Us Do Part (1969), Holiday on the Buses (1973), What's Up Nurse! (1977), Quadrophenia (1979), Party Party (1983) and Little Dorrit (1987).

Her guest roles on TV include: Dixon of Dock Green, On the Buses, Please Sir!, Minder, The Gentle Touch, Just Good Friends, C.A.T.S. Eyes, Only Fools and Horses, May to December, Murder Most Horrid, Lovejoy, Doctor At Large, Born and Bred, The Bill and Unforgotten.

Williams also appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, playing Liz Turner. Williams returned as a regular character in 2009, but in 2010, it was announced that the character was to be dropped. Williams was last seen in the role in August 2010.

In January 2016, Williams played the role of Sharon and Tracey's 'Auntie' Vera on Birds of a Feather, a role which she went on to reprise in later episodes. In November 2019, she appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Peggy Sampson. In 2023, she was cast in the BBC medical drama series Casualty, in the recurring role of Stella Lawson.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1967 Poor Cow Beryl 1969 Till Death Us Do Part Sergeant's Girlfriend 1971 Edna, the Inebriate Woman Teresa 1971 Melody Mrs Perkins 1973 Love Thy Neighbour Joan Booth 1973 Holiday on the Buses Red Cross Nurse 1975 The Golden Cage Girl in Disco 1978 What's Up Nurse! Matron 1979 Quadrophenia Mother 1983 Party Party Mum 1987 Little Dorrit Mrs Greasby 1993 The Mystery of Edwin Drood Opium Woman 2001 Hot Money Molly Stern

Television Year Title Role Notes 1967 Love Story Jeopardy Episode: "Love in a Geary Suit" 1967–1968 The Wednesday Play Janice, Valerie Chapman Episodes: "An Officer of the Court", "Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It" 1969 The Newcomers Jane Tompkins 2 episodes 1969–1970 On the Buses Doreen, Wendy Episode: "Late Again", "The Other Woman" 1969–1971 Dixon of Dock Green Connie Lester, Jane Simpson, Billie Rogers Episodes: "Obsession", "The Lag's Brigade", "No One Loses" 1971 Doctor at Large Mrs Temple Episode: "Congratulations- It's a Toad!" 1971 Please Sir! Mrs Davis Episode: "Identitwit" 1971 Play for Today Teresa Episode "Edna, the Inebriate Woman" 1972–1976 Love Thy Neighbour Joan Booth 54 episodes 1972 All Star Comedy Carnival Television film 1976 No Hard Feelings ElsieTelevision film 1977 I'm Bob, He's Dickie Episode: #1.1 1978–1980 Born and Bred Marge Benge 12 episodes 1980 Belle Starr Woman Television film 1981 A Sharp Intake of Breath Juliet Episode: "The Weekend" 1982 Shine on Harvey Moon Mrs Gold Episode: "Safe as Houses" 1982 Young at Heart Alice 2 episodes 1983 The Lady Is a Tramp Mrs Platt Episode: "Episode 3" 1983–1985 Widows Audrey Withey 11 episodes 1983 R.H.I.N.O. Care Assistant Television film 1984 Miracles Take Longer Mrs Anderson 3 episodes 1984 Bottle Boys Traffic warden Episode: "Fools Rush In" 1984 The Gentle Touch Sheila Oates Episode: "Do It Yourself" 1984 Minder Mary Episode: "A Number of Old Wives Tales" 1984 Just Good Friends Geraldine Episode: "Special" 1984 Young Ones Neighbour Episode: "Cash" 1985, 1992, 1996, 1997 The Bill Mrs Mullins, Mrs Hunt, Ruth Walker, Rose Various roles 1985 C.A.T.S. Eyes Christabel Episode: "The Double Dutch Deal" 1986 Prospects Bess Episode: "Frying Tonight" 1986 Only Fools and Horses Mrs Miles Episode: "A Royal Flush" 1988 The Storyteller Chief Maid Episode: "Sapsorrow" 1989–1994 May to December Dorothy Burgess 27 episodes 1989 The Jim Henson Hour Maid Episode: "Garbage" 1989 Alas Smith and Jones 2 episodes 1990 Perfect Scoundrels Brenda Episode: "Blue Kisses" 1990 This is David Harper Shirley English Episode: "Partners in Crime?" 1991 Murder Most Horrid Woman on bus Episode: "The Case of the Missing" 1992 Lovejoy Bella Episode: "Scotch on the Rocks" 1992 KYTV Episode: "Talking Heads" 1993 Seekers Beryl Sinclair Episode: "Episode 2" 1993 Outside Chance Ma Conway Television film 1993 London's Burning Landlady Episode: #6.9 1994–1995 Time After Time Ma Conway 7 episodes 1994 She's Out Audrey Withey 4 episodes 1995 Dressing for Breakfast Joan Episode: "Hospital" 1996 Porkpie Sheila Episode: "Birth Rites" 1998 Berkeley Square Mrs McClusky 10 episodes 2000 Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Mrs Coles Episode: "Mental Apparition Disorder" 2001 Best of Both Worlds Brigitte 2 episodes 2002 Silent Witness Bea Johnson Episode: "Tell No Tales: Part 2" 2003 In Deep Rose 4 episodes 2003 Danielle Cable: Eyewitness Neighbour Television film 2003–2005 Family Affairs Myra Costello 64 episodes 2006–2010 EastEnders Liz Turner 69 episodes 2008 Hughie Green, Most Sincerely Mrs Carr Television film 2010 Silent Witness Glenda Carmody Episode: "Run: Part 2" 2011 Holby City Catherine Salter Episode: "Too Much Monkey Business" 2014 Casualty Rosie Cornwall Episode: "The Quiet Man" 2014 Doctors Dora Harrington Episode: "Golden Boy" 2015–2016 Birds of a Feather Auntie Vera 3 episodes 2015 Man Down Rachel Episode: "Dennis" 2017 Call the Midwife Ivy Jackson Episode: #6.5 2018 Hetty Feather Mrs. Whittock 6 episodes 2019 Doctors Peggy Sampson Episode: "Every Dog Has Its Day" 2021 Unforgotten Mary Quinn Episode: #4.5 2023 Casualty Stella Lawson Recurring role