Acting

Liz Smith

Born 1921-12-11 · Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Died 2016-12-24

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.

Credits

Newest first

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
as Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
2026
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
as Self
2010
The Antiques Rogue Show
as Olive Greenhalgh
2009
City of Ember
as Granny
2008
Flick
as Ma
2008
Lark Rise to Candleford
as Zillah
2008
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
2007
The Magic Flute
as The Old Papagena
2006
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Designer Chocolate
as Self
2005
Keeping Mum
as Mrs. Parker
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Faces, Different Flavors
2005
Oliver Twist
as Old Woman
2005
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
2005
Dead Cool
as Liz
2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
as Grandma Georgina
2005
The Paul O'Grady Show
2004
Nero
as Soothsayer
2004
Imperium: Nero
as Sacrilega
2004
Between The Sheets
2003
Anna Spud
as Gran
2003
A Good Thief
as Lizzie
2002
V Graham Norton
as Self
2002
Treasure
as Voices
2001
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
as Peg Sliderskew
2001
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
as Peg Sliderskew
2001
Donovan Quick
as Granny
2000
A Christmas Carol
as Joyce
2000
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades
as Delfina
2000
A Christmas Carol
as Mrs. Dilber
1999
Oliver Twist
as Sally
1999
Tube Tales
as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
1999
Tom's Midnight Garden
as Mrs Willows
1999
It's Only TV But I Like It
as Self
1999
Alice in Wonderland
as Miss Lory
1999
V.I.P.
as Self - Gossip Columnist
1998
Wife of Bath
as Hag (voice)
1998
The Royle Family
as Norma 'Nana' Speakman
1998
So Graham Norton
as Self
1998
The Revengers' Comedies
as Winnie
1998
Anthrakitis
as Dolly
1998
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
as Mrs Meakin
1997
Trial & Retribution
as Mrs Dorothy Norton
1997
An Evening with Lily Savage
as Self - Audience Member
1996
Secrets & Lies
as Woman with Cat
1996
Karaoke
as Mrs Baglin
1996
The Queen's Nose
as Grandma
1995
Haunted
as Old gypsy woman
1995
Crapston Villas
as Delia (voice)
1995
The Vicar of Dibley
as Letitia Cropley
1994
Doggin' Around
as Mrs. Thompson
1994
Pirates
as Gran
1994
Takin' Over the Asylum
as Harriet
1994
Shooting Stars
as Self
1993
Pretty Princess
as regina madre
1993
Son of the Pink Panther
as Marta Balls
1993
Dakota Road
as Joan Benson
1992
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
as Delfina
1992
Nona
as Anyula
1991
Performance
as Anyula
1991
Bottom
as Fortune Teller
1991
2Point4 Children
as Bette
1991
2Point4 Children
as Auntie Belle
1991
Cluedo
as Mrs. White
1990
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
1990
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
as Self
1990
El C.I.D.
as Mildred
1990
Drowning in the Shallow End
as Agent
1990
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
as Grace
1989
Screen One
as Mrs. Thompson
1989
Apartment Zero
as Mary Louise McKinney
1989
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
as Mrs. Rigby
1989
Words of Love
as Gran
1989
Young Charlie Chaplin
as Mrs. Greenwood
1989
We Think the World of You
as Millie
1988
High Spirits
as Mrs. Plunkett
1988
Jake's Journey
as Witch
1988
When We Are Married
as Mrs Northrop
1987
Little Dorrit
as Mrs. Bangham
1987
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
as Lena Finn
1987
Imaginary Friends
as Milly Munger
1987