---
name: "Lynda La Plante"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lynda-la-plante"
fi1m_id: "lynda-la-plante"
imdb_id: "nm0478852"
tmdb_id: 126873
wikidata_id: "Q4018958"
roles: ["Writer"]
born: "15 March 1943"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-07T10:40:48.520424+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."
---

# Lynda La Plante

## Identity

Lynda La Plante

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lynda-la-plante
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lynda-la-plante
- **IMDb ID:** nm0478852
- **TMDB ID:** 126873
- **Wikidata ID:** Q4018958
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_La_Plante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4018958, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0478852/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/126873

Writer. Born 15 March 1943 in Liverpool, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer
- **Born:** 15 March 1943, Liverpool, England, UK
- **Active:** 1982–2018
- **Also known as:** Lynda Marchal
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 3: 1 acting, 2 writing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as writer, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (1), 1990s 88 (1), 2010s 83 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_La_Plante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4018958, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0478852/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/126873

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Prime Suspect*](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) (88)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Draughtsman's Contract*](https://film.one/film/the-draughtsmans-contract.md) (82)

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

## Biography

Lynda La Plante is an English author, screenwriter and former actress. Born Lynda Titchmarsh on 15 March 1943 in the Liverpool area, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began her career on stage and screen under the name Lynda Marchal. She appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in television series including *Z-Cars*, *The Sweeney* and *Rentaghost*.

She turned to writing in the 1970s. Her breakthrough came with the 1983 ITV series *Widows*, followed by the creation of *Prime Suspect* (1991) starring Helen Mirren. She has written numerous novels and television series including *Trial & Retribution*. La Plante received BAFTA awards for *Prime Suspect*, Emmys, an Edgar Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger in 2024; she was appointed CBE in 2008.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, lyndalaplante.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

### Performed in (1)

- *The Draughtsman's Contract* (1982), Fi1m 82, as Mrs Clement — [page](https://film.one/film/the-draughtsmans-contract.md)

### Wrote (2) — the average rests on these

- *Widows* (2018), Fi1m 83, Original Series Creator, Original Story — [page](https://film.one/film/widows.md)
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), Fi1m 88, Associate Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)

## Complete filmography (55)

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

- *Widows* (2018), Original Story, Original Series Creator, Series Writer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/widows.md)
- *Prime Suspect 1973* (2017), series, Novel, Creator
- *Prime Suspect* (2011), series, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Above Suspicion* (2009), series, Novel, Executive Producer, Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Imagine Me & You* (2006), Executive Producer
- *The Commander* (2003), series, Writer, Producer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Widows* (2002), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Framed* (2002), Writer, Executive Producer
- *The Warden* (2001), Writer
- *Mind Games* (2001), Creator, Writer
- *Supply and Demand* (1998), series, Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Killer Net* (1998), series, Writer, Creator
- *Bella Mafia* (1997), Novel, Teleplay
- *Trial & Retribution* (1997), series, Writer, Producer, Creator
- *The Prosecutors* (1996), Writer, Executive Producer
- *An Audience with Freddie Starr* (1996), Actor
- *The Governor* (1995), series, Writer, Creator
- *She's Out* (1995), series, Associate Producer, Writer, Creator
- *The Lifeboat* (1994), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Comics* (1993), series, Novel, Writer, Creator
- *Seekers* (1993), series, Creator
- *Framed* (1992), series, Writer, Creator
- *Seconds Out* (1992), Screenplay
- *Civvies* (1992), series, Writer, Creator
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, Writer, Associate Producer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *Screen One* (1989), series, Writer
- *Hidden Talents* (1986), Writer
- *Unnatural Causes* (1986), series, Writer
- *Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime* (1983), series, as Phyllis Betts
- *High Road to China* (1983), as Lina
- *Widows* (1983), series, Writer, Creator
- *The Draughtsman's Contract* (1982), as Mrs Clement — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-draughtsmans-contract.md)
- *Educating Marmalade* (1982), series, as Mrs Atkins
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Lisa Reynolds
- *Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years* (1981), series, Actor
- *Coming Home* (1981), series, as Muriel Maddocks
- *Sheppey* (1980), as Bessie Legros
- *The Gentle Touch* (1980), series, Actor
- *Why Didn't They Ask Evans?* (1980), as Mrs. Roberts
- *Coming Out* (1979), as Cecilia Plasche (as Lynda Marchal)
- *Out* (1978), series, as Angela
- *Send in the Girls* (1978), series, as Vera
- *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Viv Copeland
- *The Sunday Drama* (1977), series, as Jenny Hiketier
- *Our Young Mr. Wignall* (1976), as Vera
- *Beasts* (1976), series, as Young Woman
- *Beasts: Special Offer* (1976), as Young Woman
- *Rentaghost* (1976), series, as Tamara Novek
- *The Sweeney* (1975), series, as Eve Fisher — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md)
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, Actor
- *The Doctors* (1969), series, as Molly Dolan
- *1+1=1.5* (1969), as Miss. Harvey
- *Z-Cars* (1962), series, as Janey Hinden (as Lynda Marchal)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Lena
- *Above Suspicion 2: The Red Dahlia*, series, Creator

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Edgar Awards 1993: Edgar Awards (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/lynda-la-plante