Liz Smith
Date of birth: 1921-12-11
Place of birth: Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Betty Gleadle
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.
Movie Credits
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005-07-13
A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the worl
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
2005-09-15
Cheese-loving eccentric Wallace and his cunning canine pal, Gromit, investigate a mystery in Nick Pa
Apartment Zero
1989-09-02
In a rundown area of Buenos Aires, at the dawn of the 1980s, Adrian LeDuc owns both a struggling mov
High Spirits
1988-11-18
When a hotelier attempts to fill the chronic vacancies at his castle by launching an advertising cam
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989-10-13
The wife of an abusive criminal finds solace in the arms of a kind regular guest in her husband's re
Agatha
1979-02-09
England, 1926. An American journalist looks for mystery writer Agatha Christie when she suddenly dis
Britannia Hospital
1982-05-27
Britannia Hospital, an esteemed English institution, is marking its gala anniversary with a visit by
Little Dorrit
1987-12-11
Amy Dorrit spends her days earning money for the family and looking after her proud father who is a
Keeping Mum
2005-12-02
A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an aff
An Evening with Lily Savage
1996-11-11
Enjoy the outrageous and flamboyant First Lady of British Comedy, Lily Savage, as she performs her i
Anthrakitis
1998-01-01
Dolly, an elderly widow who lives alone, has been hoarding coal since the deaths of her husband and
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
1997-11-20
Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon b
Pretty Princess
1993-12-03
A princess from a Nordic European country is obligated to marry the boy her family chose. She escape
The Stick Up
1977-04-10
Duke Turnbeau (David Soul) has come to England, in the 1930s, as a way to improve his fortunes. For
Bleak Moments
1971-11-30
Moments from the uncompromisingly bleak existence of a secretary, her intellectually disabled sister
Words of Love
1989-01-29
2 February 1959. The Winter Dance party, Clear Lake, Iowa - another date on Buddy Holly's whistle-st
Son of the Pink Panther
1993-08-27
The illegitimate son of Inspector Clouseau is on the case of the kidnapped Princess Yasmin.
The Revengers' Comedies
1998-06-09
After saving each other from jumping off a bridge, Henry Bell and Karen Knightly plot to avenge the
Anna Spud
2003-01-01
Anna Spud is the grumpiest little girl in the world. The prospect of long car journey trapped with h
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
2001-04-08
A young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of
Night of 100 Stars III
1990-05-21
A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy.
Curse of the Pink Panther
1983-08-12
Inspector Clouseau disappears, and the Surete wants the world's second best detective to look for hi
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1976-12-30
TV-movie version of the Victor Hugo novel.
Fanny Hill
1983-01-01
Happily engaged to her handsome fiance, Charles, Fanny is soon hit with one misfortune after another
The Antiques Rogue Show
2009-01-04
Drama documentary about one of the world's most prolific and diverse art forgers, Shaun Greenhalgh,
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
1975-10-08
A recreation of a World War II incident which occurred in London's Bethnal Green underground station
Nona
1991-10-19
British production of Argentinan Roberto Cossa's play, set in Argentina in 1982. Nona is an elderly
A Private Function
1984-11-09
In the summer of 1947, Britain prepares to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince
A Christmas Carol
2000-11-20
A modern version of the classic Dickens tale, in which Eddie Scrooge is a mean loan shark who sees t
Tube Tales
1999-11-19
Nine short stories based on the true experiences of London Underground passengers: "Mr. Cool" (Amy J
Harem
1986-02-09
A young British woman is kidnapped by an Arabian sheikh and held captive in his harem. At first she
Donovan Quick
2000-12-28
Quirky stranger Donovan (Colin Firth) blows into the Scottish village of Port Clyde. There, he rents
Flick
2008-10-03
Memphis cop Lieutenant McKenzie is called in to investigate a series of strange deaths and wierd sig
Doggin' Around
1994-10-16
The past catches up with an ageing American jazz pianist when he returns to the clubs of Lancashire
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977-09-22
Eric Olthwaite is so boring that his family all leave home to escape him. Then one day he is acciden
Alice in Wonderland
1999-02-28
Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit-hole into a whimsical Wonderland, where she meets charact
Dakota Road
1992-07-17
A sensitive drama about a farm labourer's abused daughter who fantasises about the officers of the l
City of Ember
2008-10-07
For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering l
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
1982-09-04
Writer and Director Mike Leigh discusses the techniques used to create his plays.
Hard Labour
1973-03-12
A quiet and put-upon house cleaner breaks her silence.
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
1976-11-18
Based on James Herriot's books about life as a 1930s veterinarian in Yorkshire, John Alderson plays
A Good Thief
2002-07-22
Rita witnesses a murder, and believing she and her family are now in danger, she goes on the run wit
Secrets & Lies
1996-05-24
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother
Jake's Journey
1988-01-01
A normal teenager is transported to a Monty Pythonesque medieval fantasy land where an odd, adamant
We Think the World of You
1988-12-22
An aimless young man, Johnny, is sent prison. He entrusts his beloved dog, Evie, to the care of his
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End
1980-11-07
Sir Henry Rawlinson attempts to exorcise the ghost of his brother Humbert, who was accidentally kill
Oliver Twist
2005-09-23
When 9-year-old orphan Oliver Twist dares to ask his cruel taskmaster, Mr. Bumble, for a second serv
A Christmas Carol
1984-10-09
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable e
Tom's Midnight Garden
1999-07-02
When Tom's brother Peter gets measles, he is sent to stay with his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen in a fla
A Christmas Carol
1999-12-05
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable e
Spend Spend Spend
1977-03-15
Based on the book "Spend, Spend, Spend" by Vivian Nicholson and Stephen Smith. Story of pools winner
Nero
2004-05-23
As a young boy, future emperor Nero witnesses the mad Emperor Caligula kill his father and exile his
Separate Tables
1983-01-01
Two one-act plays explore love and loneliness. In "Table by the Window" an aging fashion model contr
Dead Cool
2005-09-01
A story about modern family relationships, as seen through the eyes of 15 year-old David. Six years
The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981-08-28
In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades
2000-07-13
Posing as a dancer for the Ballets Russes in Barcelona, Indy meets old friend Pablo Picasso, and nar
Jack Point
1973-11-01
Rivalry at a local Gilbert and Sullivan Society over who will play Jack Point in the Silver Jubilee
Taking Leave
1974-11-28
Mike comes home on leave from Ulster. After six years in the Army he has to decide whether to sign u
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990-05-16
A television special broadcast on PBS in honor of composer, songwriter, pianist, television writer a
The Magic Flute
2006-09-07
During World War I, in an unnamed country, a soldier named Tamino is sent by the Queen of the Night
Haunted
1995-10-27
Professor David Ash exposes false spiritulists and mediums. He is invited to Edbrook to resolve the
Breath
1975-01-23
Nell tries hard to cope with her husband, family and friends - but her asthma creates problems. Ever
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
1989-02-24
A musical about a miner who wants to break into show business.
Keep an Eye on Albert
1975-11-11
Pubs, pigeons, weight-lifting - that's Terry's life, and his wife Glenda feels neglected. But now Te
The Duellists
1977-08-31
In 1800, as Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France, a rivalry erupts between Armand and Gabriel
The Monster Club
1981-04-11
A vampire attacks a horror author on the street and then invites him to a nearby club as a gesture o
Murder Rap
1980-01-31
Wally, a caretaker in a block of flats, loses his job when the flats are used to rehouse Bhengali fa
Trail of the Pink Panther
1982-12-03
The Pink Panther diamond is stolen once again from Lugash and the authorities call in Chief Inspecto
On the Palm
1987-04-05
Fledge needs a job. He'll take anything. And when Dawlish gives him strange errands to run, for cash
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
2010-11-10
Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash discuss the creation of The Royle Family, with a look behind the scen
When We Are Married
1987-12-26
Three married couples discover that, through a legal technicality, they are, in fact, not actually m
Drowning in the Shallow End
1990-01-28
Nothing seems to go right for Colin, no matter how he tries. No one is offering him writing work, an
Crystal Gazing
1982-09-15
Experimental drama set in London during the Thatcher administration involving four characters: Neil,
Leo the Last
1970-09-04
Prince Leo, last in the line of rulers of a long-deposed monarchy on continental Europe and jaded wi