--- name: "Liza Tarbuck" canonical: "https://film.one/person/liza-tarbuck" fi1m_id: "liza-tarbuck" imdb_id: "nm0850337" tmdb_id: 1216171 wikidata_id: "Q6660436" roles: [] born: "21 November 1964" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_over: 5 updated: "2026-10-07T17:34:15.683540+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." --- # Liza Tarbuck ## Identity Liza Tarbuck - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/liza-tarbuck - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** liza-tarbuck - **IMDb ID:** nm0850337 - **TMDB ID:** 1216171 - **Wikidata ID:** Q6660436 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza_Tarbuck, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6660436, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850337/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1216171 Actor. Born 21 November 1964 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK. ## Details - **Born:** 21 November 1964, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK - **Active:** 2005–present - **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 70 (2), 2010s 76 (2), 2020s 78 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 3 - **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $151m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza_Tarbuck, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6660436, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850337/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1216171 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*The Change*](https://film.one/tv/the-change.md) (78) - **BritBox:** [*Bleak House*](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) (65) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Liza Tarbuck > Liza Tarbuck can make a difficult character likeable without pretending she is easy company. We value her comic timing and ensemble work, though broad parts need writing that gives her something beyond another eccentric to play. In *The Change* (2023), Liza Tarbuck’s Siobhain is one of the characters surrounding Bridget Christie’s Linda. Tarbuck is often asked to play broadly comic women, relying on physical presence and timing, but likeability matters just as much to what she does. She can make a difficult character worth spending time with without excusing everything about her. We rate that skill, especially in an ensemble; it needs writing that gives her more to do than be conspicuous. The seven-year run as Pamela in *Watching* (1987–1993) established her in television comedy, but casting directors subsequently struggled to place her. The title role in *Linda Green* (2001–2002) gave her a comedy-drama to carry, and made good use of her ability to keep a flawed character likeable. That lead role matters: there is more to her work than providing a reliable supporting presence. Later, Anne Hathaway in Ben Elton’s *Upstart Crow* (2016–2018) put her back among a sitcom ensemble. *Bleak House* (2005) is a less useful introduction. Tarbuck plays Mrs Jellyby in Andrew Davies’s adaptation, whose exaggerated characters too often make the serious drama difficult to believe. The gothic treatment supplies comedy, and Gillian Anderson and Burn Gorman give us compelling reasons to stay, but we found the programme decent rather than wholly convincing. We warmed to *The Change* because Christie keeps Linda direct and understandable even when the surrounding comedy grows fanciful. Alongside Tarbuck are Monica Dolan as Carmel and Paul Whitehouse as Tony, and the ensemble is one of the programme’s chief pleasures. The rural eccentricity occasionally feels overworked, but Linda’s stubbornness and the attention paid to her unpaid work keep the comedy worth watching. Tarbuck belongs to that capable company without needing to be singled out as its chief attraction. Start here, with some tolerance for eccentrics. ## Biography Liza Tarbuck is an English actress and presenter. She was born on 21 November 1964 in Liverpool and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1986. She first came to prominence as Pamela Lynch in the long-running ITV sitcom *Watching* (1987–1993). Subsequent television roles include Anne Hathaway in *Upstart Crow* (2016–2018), Beatrice in *Brassic* (2019–), and Siobhain in *The Change* (2023–). Film credits include *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2011). She is also known for radio presenting on BBC Radio 2 and appearances on panel shows such as *Taskmaster*. Tarbuck is the daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, radiotimes.com, theguardian.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) ### Performed in (4) - *The Change* (2023), Fi1m 78, as Siobhain — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-change.md) - *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), Fi1m 71, as Nurse — [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *Saxondale* (2006), Fi1m 75, as Janet — [page](https://film.one/tv/saxondale.md) - *Bleak House* (2005), Fi1m 65, as Mrs. Jellyby — [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Taskmaster* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/taskmaster.md) ## Complete filmography (30) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Under the Boardwalk* (2023), as Camille (voice) - *The Change* (2023), series, as Siobhain — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-change.md) - *How Europe Stole My Mum* (2019), Actor - *Brassic* (2019), series, as Beatrice — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md) - *Upstart Crow* (2016), series, as Anne Hathaway - *Wussywat the Clumsy Cat* (2015), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Britain's Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned* (2014), as Narrator (voice) - *Psychobitches* (2013), series, as Miss Muffet, Dread - *It's Kevin* (2013), series, as Various - *We Love the Monkees* (2012), as Narrator - *The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2012), as Nurse — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md) - *Mount Pleasant* (2011), series, Actor - *Herb Alpert, Tijuana Brass and Other Delights* (2010), as Narrator - *10 Minute Tales* (2009), series, as Katy - *Kings of Glam* (2008), as Narrator (voice) - *Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest* (2007), as Captain Kaliko (voice) - *Bonkers* (2007), series, as Helen Barker - *Skins* (2007), series, as Anita Hardbeck — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/skins.md) - *Saxondale* (2006), series, as Janet — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/saxondale.md) - *Bleak House* (2005), series, as Mrs. Jellyby — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) - *Extras* (2005), series, as Rita — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md) - *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (2002), as Mrs. Barrymore - *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as DI Fiona Knight - *Tractor Tom* (2002), series, as Farmer Fi (voice) - *Linda Green* (2001), series, as Linda Green - *Passport To The Sun* (2000), series, Actor - *Airport* (1996), series, Actor - *Victoria Wood* (1989), series, as Dana - *Tumbledown* (1988), as Angie - *Watching* (1987), series, as Pamela Wilson --- © 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/liza-tarbuck