--- name: "Liz Smith" canonical: "https://film.one/person/liz-smith" fi1m_id: "liz-smith" imdb_id: "nm0809131" tmdb_id: 7320 wikidata_id: "Q291438" roles: ["Actor"] born: "11 December 1921" died: "24 December 2016" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 71 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T13:08:22.524967+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." --- # Liz Smith ## Identity Liz Smith - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/liz-smith - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** liz-smith - **IMDb ID:** nm0809131 - **TMDB ID:** 7320 - **Wikidata ID:** Q291438 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Smith_(actress), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291438, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809131/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7320 Actor. Born 11 December 1921 in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK. Died 24 December 2016. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 11 December 1921, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK - **Died:** 24 December 2016 - **Active:** 1983–2005 - **Also known as:** Betty Gleadle - **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 55 (3), 1990s 84 (3), 2000s 76 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 67 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 6, Adventure 2, Crime 2, Drama 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $702m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Smith_(actress), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291438, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809131/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7320 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*The Royle Family*](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md) (85), [*High Spirits*](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) (52) - **BritBox:** [*The Vicar of Dibley*](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Liz Smith > Liz Smith makes eccentric supporting characters worth listening to, with a straight face and a carefully timed line. We value the precision of her comedy, even when the parts settle for making her the dotty old woman. Liz Smith's straight face is particularly useful when the subject is terrible cooking. As Letitia Cropley in *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), she makes unpromising ideas about food sound perfectly reasonable. We laughed because her matter-of-fact delivery gives no sign that anything is wrong with them. There is no need to make the character aware that she is funny. That restraint is what we rate in Smith: she gives a small comic part enough conviction to hold its place in an ensemble. Her breakthrough came as Pat's mother in Mike Leigh's *Bleak Moments* (1971), with improvised drama preceding the sitcoms that brought her wider recognition. Supporting work through the 1970s and 1980s included Mother in *A Private Function* (1984), a part that made use of her expressive face and comic timing. The move towards familiar television households and parish meetings brought *The Vicar of Dibley* and then *The Royle Family* (1998). Working with writer and actor Caroline Aherne on the latter, Smith played the family matriarch Norma 'Nana' Speakman. Her voice role as Mrs Mulch in *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005) takes her into another affectionate ensemble comedy. Nick Park and Steve Box make the smallest gestures count, although the plot stretches to fill a feature. We recommend it warmly. For Smith herself, though, there is an obvious caveat: the face that does so much of her comic work is unavailable. The recurring dotty-old-woman parts do become a limitation: even good timing cannot give a character much to do if eccentricity is her only purpose. We value Smith most when there are other actors to answer her, and a household or parish to make sense of her oddness. *The Vicar of Dibley* sometimes repeats its jokes, but Dawn French's warmth makes that company worth staying with. Begin there, if familiar village comedy is likely to be a pleasure rather than a test. ## Biography Liz Smith, born Betty Gleadle on 11 December 1921 in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, was an English actress. She died on 24 December 2016. She appeared as Norma 'Nana' Speakman in the BBC sitcom *The Royle Family* (1998–2000, 2006) and voiced Mrs Mulch in the film *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005). Smith trained briefly as an actor in her youth but worked in other jobs before her first substantial screen role in Mike Leigh's *Bleak Moments* (1971). She became known for character parts in BBC series including Annie Brandon in *I Didn't Know You Cared* (1975–1979), Letitia Cropley in *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994–1996) and roles in *2point4 Children* (1991–1999). Film credits include *A Private Function* (1984), for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, *Secrets & Lies* (1996), *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (2005) and *City of Ember* (2008). She was appointed MBE in 2009. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, bbc.com, screenonline.org.uk, wallaceandgromit.fandom.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (2005), Fi1m 64, as Grandma Georgina — [page](https://film.one/film/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory.md) - *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), Fi1m 87, as Mrs. Mulch (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md) - *The Royle Family* (1998), Fi1m 85, as Norma 'Nana' Speakman — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md) - *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Woman with Cat — [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md) - *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), Fi1m 80, as Letitia Cropley — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) - *The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover* (1989), Fi1m 78, as Grace — [page](https://film.one/film/the-cook-the-thief-his-wife-and-her-lover.md) - *High Spirits* (1988), Fi1m 52, as Mrs. Plunkett — [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) - *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), Fi1m 34, as Marta Balls — [page](https://film.one/film/curse-of-the-pink-panther.md) ## Complete filmography (118) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Antiques Rogue Show* (2009), as Olive Greenhalgh - *City of Ember* (2008), as Granny - *Flick* (2008), as Ma - *Lark Rise to Candleford* (2008), series, as Zillah - *The Magic Flute* (2006), as The Old Papagena - *Keeping Mum* (2005), as Mrs. Parker - *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Faces, Different Flavors* (2005), Actor - *Oliver Twist* (2005), as Old Woman - *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), as Mrs. Mulch (voice) — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md) - *Dead Cool* (2005), as Liz - *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (2005), as Grandma Georgina — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory.md) - *Nero* (2004), as Soothsayer - *Imperium: Nero* (2004), series, as Sacrilega - *Between The Sheets* (2003), series, Actor - *Anna Spud* (2003), as Gran - *A Good Thief* (2002), as Lizzie - *Treasure* (2001), series, as Voices - *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (2001), as Peg Sliderskew - *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (2001), series, as Peg Sliderskew - *Donovan Quick* (2000), as Granny - *A Christmas Carol* (2000), as Joyce - *The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades* (2000), as Delfina - *A Christmas Carol* (1999), as Mrs. Dilber - *Oliver Twist* (1999), series, as Sally - *Tube Tales* (1999), as Older Lady (segment "Horny") - *Tom's Midnight Garden* (1999), as Mrs Willows - *Alice in Wonderland* (1999), as Miss Lory - *Wife of Bath* (1998), as Hag (voice) - *The Royle Family* (1998), series, as Norma 'Nana' Speakman — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-royle-family.md) - *The Revengers' Comedies* (1998), as Winnie - *Anthrakitis* (1998), as Dolly - *Keep the Aspidistra Flying* (1997), as Mrs Meakin - *Trial & Retribution* (1997), series, as Mrs Dorothy Norton - *Secrets & Lies* (1996), as Woman with Cat — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md) - *Karaoke* (1996), series, as Mrs Baglin - *The Queen's Nose* (1995), series, as Grandma - *Haunted* (1995), as Old gypsy woman - *Crapston Villas* (1995), series, as Delia (voice) - *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), series, as Letitia Cropley — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) - *Doggin' Around* (1994), as Mrs. Thompson - *Pirates* (1994), series, as Gran - *Takin' Over the Asylum* (1994), series, as Harriet - *Pretty Princess* (1993), as regina madre - *Son of the Pink Panther* (1993), as Marta Balls - *Dakota Road* (1992), as Joan Benson - *The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles* (1992), series, as Delfina - *Nona* (1991), as Anyula - *Performance* (1991), series, as Anyula - *Bottom* (1991), series, as Fortune Teller - *2Point4 Children* (1991), series, as Bette, Auntie Belle - *Cluedo* (1990), series, as Mrs. White - *El C.I.D.* (1990), series, as Mildred - *Drowning in the Shallow End* (1990), as Agent - *The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover* (1989), as Grace — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cook-the-thief-his-wife-and-her-lover.md) - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Mrs. Thompson - *Apartment Zero* (1989), as Mary Louise McKinney - *Bert Rigby, You're a Fool* (1989), as Mrs. Rigby - *Words of Love* (1989), as Gran - *Young Charlie Chaplin* (1989), series, as Mrs. Greenwood - *We Think the World of You* (1988), as Millie - *High Spirits* (1988), as Mrs. Plunkett — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) - *Jake's Journey* (1988), as Witch - *When We Are Married* (1987), as Mrs Northrop - *Little Dorrit* (1987), as Mrs. Bangham - *The Ruth Rendell Mysteries* (1987), series, as Lena Finn - *Imaginary Friends* (1987), series, as Milly Munger - *Valentine Park* (1987), series, as Mrs. Giles - *On the Palm* (1987), as Mrs Slatterthwaite - *Worlds Beyond* (1986), series, as Mrs Watts - *The Life and Loves of a She-Devil* (1986), series, as Mrs Fisher - *Casualty* (1986), series, as Tillie — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md) - *Harem* (1986), as Mrs. Pendleton - *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Florence - *Mann's Best Friends* (1985), series, as Mrs. Anstruther - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Mrs. Slatterthwaite, Gran, Agent - *A Private Function* (1984), as Mother - *The Bill* (1984), series, Actor - *A Christmas Carol* (1984), as Mrs. Dilber - *Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime* (1983), series, as Hannah Macpherson - *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), as Marta Balls — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/curse-of-the-pink-panther.md) - *Now And Then* (1983), series, as Gran - Then - *Mr. Right* (1983), series, as Gran - *Fanny Hill* (1983), as Mrs. Jones (uncredited) - *Separate Tables* (1983), as Miss Meacham - *Trail of the Pink Panther* (1982), as Martha Balls (archive footage) - *Crystal Gazing* (1982), as Lady in Pub - *Britannia Hospital* (1982), as Maisie - *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 - *The Testing of Eric Olthwaite* (1977), as Mrs. Bag - *The Duellists* (1977), as Fortune Teller - *The Stick Up* (1977), as Hotel Manageress - *Nicholas Nickleby* (1977), series, as Peg Sliderskew - *Spend Spend Spend* (1977), as Keith's Granny - *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1976), as La Falourdel - *It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet* (1976), as Mrs. Dodds - *The Duchess of Duke Street* (1976), series, as Nanny - *Ripping Yarns* (1976), series, as Mrs. Bag - *Keep an Eye on Albert* (1975), as Mrs. Oxfam - *It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow* (1975), as Vi Bell - *I Didn't Know You Cared* (1975), series, as Annie Brandon - *Breath* (1975), as Mrs. Pritchett - *The Sweeney* (1975), series, as Mrs. Davies — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md) - *Taking Leave* (1974), as Confused Lady - *Seven Faces of Woman* (1974), series, as Madge - *Bedtime Stories* (1974), series, as Miss Long - *Jack Point* (1973), as Mrs. Matthews - *Second City Firsts* (1973), series, as Mrs. Murphy - *Hard Labour* (1973), as Mrs. Thornley - *Last of the Summer Wine* (1973), series, as Housekeeper - *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Mrs. Fowkes, Mrs. Flynn - *Bleak Moments* (1972), as Pat's Mother - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Mrs. Mathews, Elfie, Mrs. Oxfam, Mrs. Thornley, Mrs. Pritchett, Keith's Granny - *Leo the Last* (1970), as Raving Tenant (uncredited) - *In Loving Memory* (1969), series, as Hilda Pardoe ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Member of the Order of the British Empire 2009: Member of the Order of the British Empire (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/liz-smith