Liz Smith
Biography
Liz Smith was an English character actress born on December 11, 1921, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK. She appeared in various BBC sitcoms, including roles as Annie Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared and as the sisters Bette and Belle in 2point4 Children. She also played Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley and Norma Speakman in The Royle Family. Additionally, she portrayed Zillah in Lark Rise to Candleford. Smith won a BAFTA Award for her supporting role in the 1984 film A Private Function. She passed away on December 24, 2016, at the age of 95.
Career overview
Liz Smith is a British character actress known for her work in various BBC sitcoms. She appeared in the role of Annie Brandon in the sitcom I Didn't Know You Cared, which aired from 1975 to 1979. Smith also portrayed the sisters Bette and Belle in the sitcom 2point4 Children, a role she held from 1991 to 1999. In addition to her work in these two sitcoms, she played the character Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley from 1994 to 1996.
Liz Smith's character acting career also includes a notable role as Norma Speakman, also known as Nana, in The Royle Family. She appeared in this sitcom from 1998 to 2000 and again in 2006. Furthermore, Smith played the character Zillah in the 2008 television series Lark Rise to Candleford.
Liz Smith's acting career spans a significant period, with notable roles in various British sitcoms. Her contributions to the world of character acting have been recognized, with a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in the 1984 film A Private Function.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
143 titles- Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model (2026) as Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
- The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa (2010) as Self
- The Antiques Rogue Show (2009) as Olive Greenhalgh
- Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) as Zillah
- City of Ember (2008) as Granny
- Flick (2008) as Ma
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- The Magic Flute (2006) as The Old Papagena
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as Grandma Georgina
- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
- Oliver Twist (2005) as Old Woman
- Keeping Mum (2005) as Mrs. Parker
- Dead Cool (2005) as Liz
- The Paul O'Grady Show (2004)
- Imperium: Nero (2004) as Sacrilega
- Nero (2004) as Soothsayer
- Between The Sheets (2003)
- Anna Spud (2003) as Gran
- V Graham Norton (2002) as Self
- A Good Thief (2002) as Lizzie
- Treasure (2001) as Voices
- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) as Peg Sliderskew
- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) as Peg Sliderskew
- The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades (2000) as Delfina
- Donovan Quick (2000) as Granny
- A Christmas Carol (2000) as Joyce
- It's Only TV But I Like It (1999) as Self
- Oliver Twist (1999) as Sally
- Alice in Wonderland (1999) as Miss Lory
- A Christmas Carol (1999) as Mrs. Dilber
- Tube Tales (1999) as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
- Tom's Midnight Garden (1999) as Mrs Willows
- V.I.P. (1998) as Self - Gossip Columnist
- So Graham Norton (1998) as Self
- The Royle Family (1998) as Norma 'Nana' Speakman
- The Revengers' Comedies (1998) as Winnie
- Wife of Bath (1998) as Hag (voice)
- Anthrakitis (1998) as Dolly
- Trial & Retribution (1997) as Mrs Dorothy Norton
- Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1997) as Mrs Meakin
- Karaoke (1996) as Mrs Baglin
- Secrets & Lies (1996) as Woman with Cat
- An Evening with Lily Savage (1996) as Self - Audience Member
- The Queen's Nose (1995) as Grandma
- Crapston Villas (1995) as Delia (voice)
- Haunted (1995) as Old gypsy woman
- The Vicar of Dibley (1994) as Letitia Cropley
- Takin' Over the Asylum (1994) as Harriet
- Pirates (1994) as Gran
- Doggin' Around (1994) as Mrs. Thompson
- Shooting Stars (1993) as Self
- Son of the Pink Panther (1993) as Marta Balls
- Pretty Princess (1993) as regina madre
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) as Delfina
- Dakota Road (1992) as Joan Benson
- Performance (1991) as Anyula
- 2Point4 Children (1991) as Bette
- 2Point4 Children (1991) as Auntie Belle
- Bottom (1991) as Fortune Teller
- Nona (1991) as Anyula
- Cluedo (1990) as Mrs. White
- El C.I.D. (1990) as Mildred
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- Drowning in the Shallow End (1990) as Agent
- Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (1990) as Self
- Screen One (1989) as Mrs. Thompson
- The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) as Grace
- Young Charlie Chaplin (1989) as Mrs. Greenwood
- Bert Rigby, You're a Fool (1989) as Mrs. Rigby
- Apartment Zero (1989) as Mary Louise McKinney
- Words of Love (1989) as Gran
- High Spirits (1988) as Mrs. Plunkett
- We Think the World of You (1988) as Millie
- Jake's Journey (1988) as Witch
- The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987) as Lena Finn
- Valentine Park (1987) as Mrs. Giles
- Little Dorrit (1987) as Mrs. Bangham
- When We Are Married (1987) as Mrs Northrop
- On the Palm (1987) as Mrs Slatterthwaite
- Casualty (1986) as Tillie
- American Masters (1986) as Self
- Lovejoy (1986) as Florence
- Worlds Beyond (1986) as Mrs Watts
- The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1986) as Mrs Fisher
- Harem (1986) as Mrs. Pendleton
- Screen Two (1985) as Mrs. Slatterthwaite
- Screen Two (1985) as Gran
- Screen Two (1985) as Agent
- Mann's Best Friends (1985) as Mrs. Anstruther
- The Bill (1984)
- A Christmas Carol (1984) as Mrs. Dilber
- A Private Function (1984) as Mother
- Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime (1983) as Hannah Macpherson
- Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) as Marta Balls
- Fanny Hill (1983) as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
- Now And Then (1983) as Gran - Then
- Mr. Right (1983) as Gran
- Separate Tables (1983) as Miss Meacham
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) as Martha Balls (archive footage)
- Britannia Hospital (1982) as Maisie
- Mike Leigh: Making Plays (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- Crystal Gazing (1982) as Lady in Pub
- The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) as Mrs. Fairley
- The Monster Club (1981) as Villager
- Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980) as Lady Phillipa of Staines
- Murder Rap (1980) as Elfie
- Agatha (1979) as Flora
- An Audience with... (1978) as Self
- Nicholas Nickleby (1977) as Peg Sliderskew
- The Duellists (1977) as Fortune Teller
- The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977) as Mrs. Bag
- Spend Spend Spend (1977) as Keith's Granny
- The Stick Up (1977) as Hotel Manageress
- The Duchess of Duke Street (1976) as Nanny
- Ripping Yarns (1976) as Mrs. Bag
- It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1976) as Mrs. Dodds
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1976) as La Falourdel
- The Sweeney (1975) as Mrs. Davies
- I Didn't Know You Cared (1975) as Annie Brandon
- Keep an Eye on Albert (1975) as Mrs. Oxfam
- Breath (1975) as Mrs. Pritchett
- It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1975) as Vi Bell
- Bedtime Stories (1974) as Miss Long
- Seven Faces of Woman (1974) as Madge
- Taking Leave (1974) as Confused Lady
- Last of the Summer Wine (1973) as Housekeeper
- Second City Firsts (1973) as Mrs. Murphy
- Hard Labour (1973) as Mrs. Thornley
- Jack Point (1973) as Mrs. Matthews
- Crown Court (1972)
- Crown Court (1972) as Mrs. Fowkes
- Bleak Moments (1971) as Pat's Mother
- Play for Today (1970) as Mrs. Thornley
- Play for Today (1970) as Mrs. Mathews
- Play for Today (1970) as Mrs. Pritchett
- Play for Today (1970) as Mrs. Oxfam
- Play for Today (1970) as Keith's Granny
- Play for Today (1970) as Elfie
- Play for Today (1970)
- Leo the Last (1970) as Raving Tenant (uncredited)
- In Loving Memory (1969) as Hilda Pardoe
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Liz Smith best known for?
Liz Smith is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Lark Rise to Candleford (2008), City of Ember (2008), The Graham Norton Show (2007), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
When and where was Liz Smith born?
Liz Smith was born on December 11, 1921 in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK. They passed away on December 24, 2016.
How many credits does Liz Smith have?
Liz Smith has accumulated over 143 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2026.
What is Liz Smith's background in cinema and television?
Liz Smith was an English character actress born on December 11, 1921, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK. She appeared in various BBC sitcoms, including roles as Annie Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared and as the sisters Bette and Belle in 2point4 Children. She also played Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley ...