Liz Smith
Acting1921Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK
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.
Known For
Acting History
2026
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
TVas Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
2018
Tony Awards
TVas Self (archive footage)• 1 eps
2010
2009
The Antiques Rogue Show
as Olive Greenhalgh
2008
2007
The Graham Norton Show
TVas Self• 2 eps
2006
The Magic Flute
as The Old Papagena
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
as Grandma Georgina
Oliver Twist
as Old Woman
Keeping Mum
as Mrs. Parker
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
Dead Cool
as Liz
2004
2003
Anna Spud
as Gran
2002
2001
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
as Peg Sliderskew
2000
A Christmas Carol
as Joyce
Donovan Quick
as Granny
1999
Alice in Wonderland
as Miss Lory
Tom's Midnight Garden
as Mrs Willows
A Christmas Carol
as Mrs. Dilber
Tube Tales
as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
TVas Lena Finn• 1 eps
So Graham Norton
TVas Self• 1 eps
It's Only TV But I Like It
TVas Self
Oliver Twist
TVas Sally
1998
The Revengers' Comedies
as Winnie
Wife of Bath
as Hag
Anthrakitis
as Dolly
V.I.P.
TVas Self - Gossip Columnist• 1 eps
The Royle Family
TVas Norma 'Nana' Speakman• 10 eps
1997
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
as Mrs Meakin
1996
An Evening with Lily Savage
as Self - Audience Member
Secrets & Lies
as Woman with Cat
American Masters
TVas Self• 1 eps
Karaoke
TVas Mrs Baglin
1995
1994
Doggin' Around
as Mrs. Thompson
An Audience with...
TVas Self• 2 eps
Takin' Over the Asylum
TVas Harriet
The Vicar of Dibley
TVas Letitia Cropley• 14 eps
Pirates
TVas Gran
1993
1992
Dakota Road
as Joan Benson
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
TVas Delfina• 1 eps
1991
Nona
as Anyula
Bottom
TVas Fortune Teller• 1 eps
2Point4 Children
TVas Bette / Auntie Belle
Performance
TVas Anyula• 1 eps
1990
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
Drowning in the Shallow End
as Agent
Cluedo
TVas Mrs. White
El C.I.D.
TVas Mildred
1989
Apartment Zero
as Mary Louise McKinney
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
as Mrs. Rigby
Words of Love
as Gran
Young Charlie Chaplin
TVas Mrs. Greenwood
1988
1987
Little Dorrit
as Mrs. Bangham
On the Palm
as Mrs Slatterthwaite
When We Are Married
as Mrs Northrop
Valentine Park
TVas Mrs. Giles
1986
Harem
as Mrs. Pendleton
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
TVas Mrs. Fisher• 4 eps
Casualty
TVas Tillie
Worlds Beyond
TVas Mrs Watts
1985
Mann's Best Friends
TVas Mrs. Anstruther
1984
1983
Curse of the Pink Panther
as Marta Balls
Fanny Hill
as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
Separate Tables
as Miss Meacham
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
TVas Hannah Macpherson
1982
Britannia Hospital
as Maisie
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
as Self (archive footage)
Trail of the Pink Panther
as Martha Balls (archive footage)
Crystal Gazing
as Lady in Pub
Wogan
TVas Self
1981
The French Lieutenant's Woman
as Mrs. Fairley
The Monster Club
as Villager
1980
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End
as Lady Phillipa of Staines
Murder Rap
as Elfie
The Gentle Touch
TVas Edna Slater
1979
Agatha
as Flora
1977
The Duellists
as Fortune Teller
The Stick Up
as Hotel Manageress
Spend Spend Spend
as Keith's Granny
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
as Mrs. Bag
Nicholas Nickleby
TVas Peg Sliderskew
1976
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
as Mrs. Dodds
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
as La Falourdel
Ripping Yarns
TVas Mrs. Bag
The Duchess of Duke Street
TVas Nanny
1975
Breath
as Mrs. Pritchett
Keep an Eye on Albert
as Mrs. Oxfam
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
as Vi Bell
I Didn't Know You Cared
TVas Annie Brandon• 27 eps
The Sweeney
TVas Mrs. Davies• 1 eps
1974
1973
1971
Bleak Moments
as Pat's Mother
1970
Leo the Last
as Raving Tenant (uncredited)
1969
In Loving Memory
TVas Hilda Pardoe