---
name: "Elspet Gray"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/elspet-gray"
roles: []
born: "18 February 1929"
died: "18 February 2013"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-18T07:49:49.022556+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Elspet Gray

Actor. Born 18 February 1929 in Inverness, Inverness Shire, Scotland, UK. Died 18 February 2013.

## Details

- **Born:** 18 February 1929, Inverness, Inverness Shire, Scotland, UK
- **Died:** 18 February 2013
- **Active:** 1975–1987
- **Also known as:** Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 90 (1), 1980s 84 (2)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Crime 1, Drama 1, Mystery 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elspet_Gray, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5036478, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336607/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1229860

## Streaming the US now

- **BritBox:** [*Blackadder*](https://film.one/tv/blackadder.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Elspet Gray was a Scottish actress. She appeared in numerous stage productions, particularly the Whitehall farces managed by her husband, the actor and producer Brian Rix, at the Whitehall Theatre and later the Garrick Theatre. She made her professional stage debut in 1947 and her first film appearance in 1948.

Gray was known for television roles including Lady Collingford in *Catweazle* (1970), Mrs Abbott in *Fawlty Towers* (1979), Mrs Palmer in *Solo* (1981–82), Chancellor Thalia in *Doctor Who* (1983), and Mrs Bartlett in *Inspector Morse* (1987). She played The Queen (Gertrude of Flanders) in the first series of *Blackadder* (1983). Her film credits include *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1969) and *Four Weddings and a Funeral* (1994).

With Rix, whom she married in 1949, she campaigned for people with learning disabilities. She continued working in television into the 1990s, with a final appearance in *dinnerladies* (1998).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, theguardian.com, thetimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Inspector Morse* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Mrs Bartlett — [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Blackadder* (1983), Fi1m 84, as The Queen — [page](https://film.one/tv/blackadder.md)
- *Fawlty Towers* (1975), Fi1m 90, as Mrs. Abbott — [page](https://film.one/tv/fawlty-towers.md)

## Complete filmography (36)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Blackadder: The Lost Pilot* (2023), as The Queen
- *The Ties That Bind Us* (2008), as Thalia (archive footage)
- *The Funny Blokes of British Comedy* (2005), as Mrs. Abbott (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *dinnerladies* (1998), series, as Hilary
- *The Wingless Bird* (1997), series, as Grace Farrier
- *Four Weddings and a Funeral* (1994), as Laura's Mother - Wedding One — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/four-weddings-and-a-funeral.md)
- *Doctor Finlay* (1993), series, as Mrs. Finlay
- *The Girl in a Swing* (1988), as Mrs. Dresland
- *Pulaski* (1987), series, as Celia Parker-Smith
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Mrs Bartlett — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Mary Porter
- *Lytton's Diary* (1985), series, as Susan Anderson
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Mrs. Grigson
- *Blackadder* (1983), series, as The Queen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/blackadder.md)
- *Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity* (1983), as Chancellor Thalia
- *The Agatha Christie Hour* (1982), series, as Mrs Carslake
- *Tenko* (1981), series, as Phyllis Bristow
- *Solo* (1981), series, Acting
- *The Many Wives Of Patrick* (1976), series, Acting
- *Fawlty Towers* (1975), series, as Mrs. Abbott — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/fawlty-towers.md)
- *Catweazle* (1970), series, as Lady Collingford
- *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1969), as Lady Sutterwick (uncredited)
- *The Tycoon* (1968), as Helen Taylor
- *Doctor Who* (1963), series, as Chancellor Thalia — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md)
- *Dial RIX* (1962), series, as Pamela Rix, Cynthia, Mrs Barrington Rix, Penelope Rix, Miranda Marston, Angela Rix
- *The Night We Got the Bird* (1960), as Woman with Dog
- *Colonel March of Scotland Yard* (1956), series, as Johanna
- *Strange Experiences* (1955), series, as Querella
- *Devil's Point* (1954), as June Mallard
- *Johnny-on-the-Spot* (1954), as Joan Ingram
- *Reluctant Heroes* (1952), as Lieutenant Virginia
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Rita Ronan
- *Trottie True* (1949), as Honor Bellaire (uncredited)
- *Love in Waiting* (1948), as Brenda Lawrence
- *Fly Away Peter* (1948), as Phyllis Hapgood
- *The Blind Goddess* (1948), as Daphne Dearing

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/elspet-gray