Liz Smith

Betty Gleadle (11 December 1921 – 24 December 2016), known by the stage name Liz Smith, was an English actress. She was 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 ("Nana") in The Royle Family (1998–2006). For the latter, Smith was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Comedy Performance in 2007. She also played Zillah in Lark Rise to Candleford and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Mother in the film A Private Function (1984).

Early life Smith was born Betty Gleadle on 11 December 1921 in the Crosby area of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Her mother died when she was two; her father remarried, but his new wife did not wish him to have any contact with his previous life. As a result, Smith was brought up by her widowed grandmother and attended Crosby Junior School and the Scunthorpe Modern and Day Commercial Schools in Cole Street. During the Second World War, Smith served in the Women's Royal Naval Service of the Royal Navy.

Career Early roles In 1971, aged 49, Smith had a career breakthrough when she appeared as the downtrodden mother in Mike Leigh's film Bleak Moments:

Smith starred in It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow, written by Bernard Kops and directed by John Goldschmidt, which depicted the real-life drama of the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster during World War II. A role in Hard Labour followed. After that, Smith appeared in Emmerdale Farm (as Hilda Semple), Last of the Summer Wine, Bootsie and Snudge, Crown Court, I Didn't Know You Cared and The Sweeney. She also appeared as Madame Balls in The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), but her scenes were deleted and remained unseen until Trail of the Pink Panther in 1982. Smith was seen in Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and later Son of the Pink Panther (1993) in the same role.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Smith appeared in many UK television programmes, including The Duchess of Duke Street, Within These Walls, In Loving Memory, The Gentle Touch, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, One by One as Gran Turner and The Lenny Henry Show. In 1984, Smith received a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the mother of Maggie Smith's character in A Private Function.

In 1980, Smith won a role in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End as Lady Philippa of Staines. She later appeared in the thriller, Apartment Zero, which was featured in the 1988 Sundance Film Festival. Smith played the role of one of two eccentric characters (the other is Dora Bryan) described by The Washington Post as two "... tea-and-crumpet gargoyle-featured spinsters who snoop the corridors." also had a part in Lovejoy 1eps

1990s Smith started the 1990s by appearing in 2point4 Children (as "Aunt Belle" and "Bette"), Bottom, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Lovejoy. In 1994, she played the lead role in the Children's BBC series Pirates.

Smith played parish council member Letitia Cropley in the first series of The Vicar of Dibley. The character died in her seventh episode, the 1996 Easter Special; she later recalled that she only learned that Cropley was to be killed off when the script was delivered to her home by motorcycle courier with a note from Richard Curtis informing her of the death.

In November 1995, Smith made a guest appearance in the BBC1 medical drama series Casualty. In 1996, she had a cameo appearance in the Mike Leigh film Secrets & Lies and in 1998 starred in the TV sitcom The Royle Family. This aired until 2000, but came back for a special episode in 2006 when her character, Nana, died. In the meantime, Smith had appeared in The Queen's Nose and The Bill. In 1999, Smith was featured in A Christmas Carol as Mrs Dilber. She portrayed that same character in the 1984 version and also appeared as Miss Lory in Alice in Wonderland.

2000s and 2010s Smith continued to act until ill-health beset her in 2009, appearing in such TV programmes as Trial & Retribution V and Doctors. In 2001, Smith appeared as herself in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. Four years later, she played Grandma Georgina in the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and provided the voice of Mrs. Mulch in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, as well as small roles in Oliver Twist and Keeping Mum.

In 2006, Smith published her autobiography Our Betty, and moved to a retirement home in Hampstead, London, around the same time. The following year, Smith published a series of short stories entitled Jottings: Flights of Fancy and appeared in the Little Man Tate music video "This Must Be Love". On 5 December 2007, she won the Best Television Comedy Actress at the British Comedy Awards for her role in The Royle Family. The 2006 episode "The Queen of Sheba" takes place six years after the events of the previous series and features Nana's declining health and death. It won the Best Sitcom award at the 2007 BAFTAs, and won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Situation Comedy & Comedy Drama.

In 2006, Smith made a cameo appearance in Kenneth Branagh's film The Magic Flute, a version in English of the Mozart opera. However, her role did not require her to sing. Smith portrayed Old Papagena who, later on in the film, magically transforms into Young Papagena (played by soprano Silvia Moi) and marries the birdcatcher Papageno (played by baritone Benjamin Jay Davis).

In 2008, Smith starred in the first series of the period drama Lark Rise to Candleford. That same year, she was a castaway on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and was in the film City of Ember, which was released in October 2008. In July 2009, Smith was featured in a one-hour BBC Four documentary called Liz Smith's Summer Cruise, where she joined a group of like-minded individuals on a cruise from Croatia to Venice. That same month, having suffered a series of strokes a few months earlier, Smith announced her retirement from acting at age 87. Smith was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.

In 2010, Smith took part in the BBC television programme The Young Ones, in which six celebrities in their 70s and 80s attempted to overcome some of the problems of ageing by harking back to the 1970s.

Personal life and death In 1945, Smith married Jack Thomas, whom she met while on service in India. They had two children, but divorced in 1959. Smith brought up her son and daughter on her own. She described this as an extremely difficult period in her life, as Smith struggled against financial problems and social disapproval of her status as a divorcee.

Smith died from natural causes on Christmas Eve 2016 at her home in Worthing, West Sussex,

Tributes Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning, said that Smith had "brilliantly captured the grandparent in everyone's family" as Nana in The Royle Family. Mike Leigh said, "She was a complete breath of fresh air... she was not your bog standard middle-aged actress." The final episode of the lockdown edition of The Vicar of Dibley ended with a tribute just before the closing credits reading, "In loving memory of Liz, John, Emma and Roger", paying tribute to Smith and three other deceased Dibley cast members (John Bluthal, Emma Chambers and Roger Lloyd-Pack).

In 2025, Smith appeared on a British postage stamp issued as part of a special set by Royal Mail, which commemorated the series The Vicar of Dibley.

Filmography +Film Year Title Role 1970 Leo the Last Raving Tenant 1971 Bleak Moments Pat's Mother 1976 It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet Mrs. Dodds 1977 The Duellists Fortune Teller The Stick Up Hotel Manageress 1979 Agatha Flora 1980 Sir Henry at Rawlinson End Lady Phillipa of Staines 1981 The Monster Club Villager The French Lieutenant's Woman Mrs. Fairley 1982 Britannia Hospital Maisie Crystal Gazing Lady in Pub Give Us This Day Landlady 1983 Fanny Hill Mrs. Jones Curse of the Pink Panther Marta Balls 1984 A Private Function Mother 1987 Little Dorrit Mrs. Bangham 1988 We Think the World of You Millie Burney High Spirits Lavinia Plunkett 1989 Bert Rigby, You're a Fool Mrs. Rigby The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Grace Apartment Zero Mary Louise McKinney 1991 Dakota Road Joan Road 1993 Son of the Pink Panther Marta Balls Piccolo grande amore Queen Mother 1995 Haunted Old Gypsy Woman 1996 Secrets & Lies Cat Owner 1997 Keep the Aspidistra Flying Mrs. Meakin 1998 Sweet Revenge Winnie Anthrakitis Dolly 1999 Tom's Midnight Garden Mrs. Willows Tube Tales Old Lady 2003 Anna Spud Gran 2004 Dead Cool Liz 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Grandma Georgina Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Mrs. Mulch Oliver Twist Old Woman Keeping Mum Mrs. Parker 2006 The Magic Flute The Old Papagena 2008 Flick Ma City of Ember Granny Mayfleet

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Last of the Summer Wine Housekeeper Series 1, episode 4 1974 Bedtime Stories Miss Long Series 1, episode 4 1974 Comedy Playhouse Series 15, episode 14 1974 Seven Faces of Woman Madge Series 1, episode 4 1974 Village Hall Mrs. Whalley Series 1, episode 2 1974 Omnibus Mrs. Smith Series 8, episode 3 1974 Bootsie and Snudge Mrs. Partridge Series 4, episode 3 1974 No, Honestly May Series 1, episode 5 1974 South Riding Nellie Hughins Series 1, episodes 1 and 9 1974 Second City Firsts Mrs. Murphy Series 3, episode 7 1974 David Copperfield Mrs. Heep Miniseries (3 episodes) 1975 The Sweeney Mrs. Davies Series 2, episode 5 1975 The Dick Emery Show Series 14, episode 5 1975 It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow Vi Bell TV film 1975 Emmerdale Farm Hilda Semple Episodes 275–278 1975 The Fortune Hunters Mrs. Eady TV film1974–1976Crown CourtMrs. FowkesSeries 3, episode 7Kitty RossSeries 4, episodes 15 and 17Mrs. FlynnSeries 5, episodes 39, 40 and 41 1976 The Hunchback of Notre Dame La Falourdel TV film 1977 The Punch Review Various Series 1, episode 2 1977 Nicholas Nickleby Peg Sliderskew Miniseries (2 episodes) 1977 Ripping Yarns Mrs. Bag Series 1, episode 2 1977 The Duchess of Duke Street Nanny Series 2, episodes 4 and 12 1978 Within These Walls Tottie Dodd Series 5, episodes 12 and 13 1975–1979 I Didn't Know You Cared Annie Brandon Series 1–4 (series regular, 27 episodes) 1979 Hazell Mrs. Scropp Series 2, episode 121973–1980Play for TodayMrs. ThornleySeries 3, episode 20Mrs. MatthewsSeries 4, episode 3Series 5, episode 5Mrs. PritchettSeries 5, episode 10Mrs. OxfamSeries 6, episode 5Keith's GrannySeries 7, episode 12ElfieSeries 10, episode 15 1980 Bernie Series 2, episode 3 1980 The Russ Abbot Madhouse Various Series 1 (7 episodes) 1981 The Other 'Arf Nora Series 2, episode 4 1981 Love Story: A Chance to Sit Down Mrs. Barker Series 1, episode 3 1980–1982 In Loving Memory Hilda Pardoe Series 2, episode 1 and series 3, episode 8 1982 The Gentle Touch Edna Slater Series 3, episode 10 1982 Russian Night... 1941 Frosya TV film 1983 Mr. Right Gran Series 1, episodes 1–4 1983 Separate Tables Miss Meacham TV film 1983 The All Electric Amusement Arcade Gran Series 1 (series regular, 7 episodes) 1983 Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime Hannah Macpherson Miniseries (1 episode) 1983–1984 Now and Then Gran Series 1 and 2 (series regular, 13 episodes) 1984 One by One Gran Turner Series 1 (series regular, 10 episodes) 1984 The Lenny Henry Show Various Series 1, episode 2 1984 A Christmas Carol Mrs. Dilber TV film 1985 Doctors' Dilemmas Edna Bryant Series 2, episode 5 1985 Mann's Best Friends Mrs. Anstruther Series regular. In 5 episodes. 1985 Rainbow Auntie Liz Series 14, episode 40 1986 Harem Mrs. Pendleton TV film 1986 King and Castle Mrs. Chalmers Series 1, episode 4 1986 The Life and Loves of a She-Devil Mrs. Fisher Miniseries (3 episodes) 1987 Imaginary Friends Milly Munger Miniseries (3 episodes) 1987 Worlds Beyond Mrs. Watts Series 1, episode 10 1987 Bust Brenda Walsh Series 1, episode 5 1987 When We Are Married Mrs. Northrop TV film 1987–1988 Valentine Park Mrs. Giles Series 1 and 2 (series regular, 12 episodes) 1988 All in Good Faith Annie Freeman Series 3, episode 2 1988 Jake's Journey Witch TV pilot 1989 Young Charlie Chaplin Mrs. Greenwood Series 1, episode 4 1989 Singles Mrs. Phelps Series 2, episode 6 1989 All Change Aunt Mary Series 1, episode 51987–1990Screen TwoMrs. SlatterthwaiteSeries 3, episode 13GranSeries 5, episode 4AgentSeries 6, episode 3 1990 A Bit of Fry & Laurie Woman Returning Suits Series 2, episode 4 1990 Dunrulin Mrs. Trodd TV film 1990–1991 Making Out Muriel Series 2, episode 4 and series 3, episode 6 1991 El C.I.D. Mildred Series 2, episode 4 1991 Bottom Gypsy Slag Wagon Series 1, episode 4 1991 Performance Anyula Series 1, episode 3 1992 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Delfina Series 2, episode 4 1993 Lovejoy Florence Series 4, episode 8 1993 Cluedo Mrs. Blanche White Series 4 (series regular, 6 episodes) 1993 Without Walls Maid 1 episode 1994 New Voices Nana 1 episode 1994 Takin' Over the Asylum Harriet Miniseries (1 episode) 1994 Screen One Mrs. Thompson Series 6, episode 7 1995 Crapston Villas Delia 20 episodes 1995 Casualty Tillie Series 10, Episode 9 1994–1997 Pirates Abigail Blood Series 1–3 (24 episodes)1994–1996The Vicar of DibleyLetitia Cropley Series 1 (series regular, 6 episodes) Easter special (final episode) 1996 Karaoke Mrs. Baglin Miniseries (3 episodes) 1998 V.I.P. Gossip Columnist Series 1, episode 1 1998 The Canterbury Tales The Hag Series 1, episode 11991–19992Point4ChildrenBetteSeries 1–8 (recurring, 11 episodes)Aunt BelleSeries 3, episode 1 and series 6, episode 3 1996–1999 The Queen's Nose Grandma Series 2 and 3 (7 episodes) 1999 Alice in Wonderland Miss Lory TV film 1999 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Lena Finn Series 11, episodes 8 and 9 1999 A Christmas Carol Mrs. Dilber TV film 1999 Oliver Twist Sally Miniseries (2 episodes) 2000 City Central Megan Roberts Series 3, episode 2 2000 Donovan Quick Granny TV film 2000 A Christmas Carol Joyce TV film 2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Peg Sliderskew TV film 2002 Animated Tales of the World Third Aunt Series 2, episode 12 2002 Trial & Retribution Mrs. Dorothy Norton Series 5, episodes 1 and 21984–2002The BillMaggieSeries 1, episode 6Mrs. WestSeries 7, episode 30Edna FinchSeries 14, episode 78Harriet 'Tatsie' WrightSeries 18, episodes 51 and 52 2003 Doctors Agatha Clifford Series 5, episode 142 2003 Between the Sheets Audrey Delany Series 1 (series regular, 6 episodes) 2004 Nero Soothsayer TV film1998–2006The Royle FamilyNorma Speakman (Nana) Series 1–3 (recurring, 10 episodes) 2006 special 2007 The Abbey Elsie TV pilot 2008 Lark Rise to Candleford Zillah Series 1 (series regular, 10 episodes) 2009 The Antiques Rogue Show Olive Greenhalgh TV film 2009 The All Star Impressions Show Queen Elizabeth II TV special 2013 Common Ground Colin's Mum Series 1, episode 7 2013 The Tunnel Harriet Stone Series 1, episodes 2 and 3