---
name: "Phyllida Law"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/phyllida-law"
fi1m_id: "phyllida-law"
imdb_id: "nm0492373"
tmdb_id: 17787
wikidata_id: "Q432357"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 May 1932"
died: "27 July 2026"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-07T10:36:43.591378+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."
---

# Phyllida Law

## Identity

Phyllida Law

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/phyllida-law
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** phyllida-law
- **IMDb ID:** nm0492373
- **TMDB ID:** 17787
- **Wikidata ID:** Q432357
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllida_Law, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432357, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492373/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17787

Actor. Born 8 May 1932 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Died 27 July 2026.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 May 1932, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
- **Died:** 27 July 2026
- **Active:** 1971–2002
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 83 (1), 1990s 75 (2), 2000s 54 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 64 to 58 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $173m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllida_Law, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432357, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492373/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17787

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Saving Grace*](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md) (60), [*The Time Machine*](https://film.one/film/the-time-machine.md) (47)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Much Ado About Nothing*](https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Peter's Friends*](https://film.one/film/peters-friends.md) (72)

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

## Biography

Phyllida Law was a Scottish actress. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and worked extensively in theatre, television and film from the late 1950s onwards.

Law appeared in *Peter's Friends* (1992) as Vera and *Much Ado About Nothing* (1993) as Ursula. She was appointed OBE in 2014 for services to drama and charitable services. She was the mother of actresses Emma Thompson and Sophie Thompson.

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

## On Fi1m (5)

- *The Time Machine* (2002), Fi1m 47, as Mrs. Watchett — [page](https://film.one/film/the-time-machine.md)
- *Saving Grace* (2000), Fi1m 60, as Margaret Sutton — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md)
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (1993), Fi1m 78, as Ursula — [page](https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing.md)
- *Peter's Friends* (1992), Fi1m 72, as Vera — [page](https://film.one/film/peters-friends.md)
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), Fi1m 83, as Lady Constance Weir — [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)

## Complete filmography (98)

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

- *Then Came You* (2020), as Arlene
- *Bakery in Brooklyn* (2016), as Baker on the iPad #1
- *A Little Chaos* (2015), as Suzanne
- *Three Days in Havana* (2014), as The Broker
- *Rosamunde Pilcher: The Other Wife* (2012), series, as Lady Anne Meriot
- *Albert Nobbs* (2011), as Mrs. Cavendish
- *Love at First Sight* (2010), as Ruth
- *Ways to Live Forever* (2010), as Grandmother
- *Under the Hammer* (2010), series, Actor
- *Lecture 21* (2008), as Boheme
- *Miss Austen Regrets* (2008), as Mrs. Austen
- *The Sarah Jane Adventures* (2007), series, as Bea Nelson-Stanley
- *The Waiting Room* (2007), as Helen
- *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Aunt Auriel
- *Mia Sarah* (2006), as Sarah
- *Miss Potter* (2006), as Mrs. Warne
- *Copying Beethoven* (2006), as Mother Canisius
- *Day of Wrath* (2006), as Esperanza de Mendoza
- *Pinochet in Suburbia* (2006), as Lucia Pinochet
- *A Little Trip to Heaven* (2005), as Head Mistress
- *Nanny McPhee* (2005), as Mrs. Partridge (voice)
- *Afterlife* (2005), series, Actor
- *Mee-Shee: The Water Giant* (2005), as Mrs. Coogan
- *Unleashed* (2005), as Distinguished Lady
- *Blinded* (2004), as Bella Black
- *Tooth* (2004), as Mrs. Claus
- *I'll Be There* (2003), as Mrs. Williams
- *The Royal* (2003), series, as Daisy Crannagh
- *Brush with Fate* (2003), as Maria
- *Two Men Went To War* (2002), as Faith
- *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Lady Muriel Sackville — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md)
- *The Time Machine* (2002), as Mrs. Watchett — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/the-time-machine.md)
- *The Swap* (2002), as Rose Trenchard
- *Stig of the Dump* (2002), series, as Marjorie
- *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Mrs. Carstairs
- *The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: The Perils of Cupid* (2000), as Signore Reale
- *How Proust Can Change Your Life* (2000), as Virginia Woolf
- *Monarch of the Glen* (2000), series, as Isobel Hogg
- *Saving Grace* (2000), as Margaret Sutton — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md)
- *The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns* (1999), series, as Lady Margaret
- *Mad Cows* (1999), as Lady Drake (Alex's Mother)
- *The Lost Lover* (1999), as The Grandmother
- *Milk* (1999), as Veronica
- *Judas Kiss* (1998), as Shouting Woman (uncredited)
- *I Want You* (1998), as Woman at Hairdresser #1
- *The Winter Guest* (1997), as Elspeth
- *Anna Karenina* (1997), as Vronskaya
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Felicity Dinsdale, Mary Bingham — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Emma* (1996), as Mrs. Bates
- *Degrees of Error* (1995), series, as Margot
- *Hamish Macbeth* (1995), series, as Vicky Jeffreys
- *The Blue Boy* (1994), as Marie's Mother
- *Before the Rain* (1994), as Anne's Mother
- *All or Nothing at All* (1993), series, as Mrs. Timpson
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (1993), as Ursula — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/much-ado-about-nothing.md)
- *Peter's Friends* (1992), as Vera — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/peters-friends.md)
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Nancy Bellow
- *The House of Eliott* (1991), series, as Edith Duglass
- *About Face* (1989), series, Actor
- *Tree of Hands* (1989), as Julia
- *A Bit of Fry & Laurie* (1989), series, Actor
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe, Lady Carrington — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *Colleagues From Hell* (1989), Actor
- *That's Love* (1988), series, Actor
- *Clarence* (1988), series, as Mrs. Vaile
- *Ffizz* (1987), series, as Lady Boughton
- *Hell's Bells* (1986), series, as Edith Makepeace
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Marie's Mother
- *The Life and Death of King John* (1984), as Lady Faulconbridge
- *Taggart* (1983), series, Actor
- *The Barchester Chronicles* (1982), series, as Mrs Stanhope
- *Fame Is the Spur* (1982), series, as Aunt Lizzie
- *A Question of Guilt* (1980), series, as Mrs Blandy
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Magistrate — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Maggie Patton
- *Come Back, Lucy* (1978), series, as Aunt Gwen
- *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Phyllis
- *Abide with Me* (1976), as Joan Drummond
- *Buffet* (1976), as Joan
- *When the Boat Comes In* (1976), series, Actor
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Honoria Bird, Mrs. Thripp
- *A Picture of Katherine Mansfield* (1973), series, as Mother
- *Hitler: The Last Ten Days* (1973), as Fraulein Manzialy
- *The Bristol Entertainment* (1971), as Bridget
- *Evelyn* (1971), as The Wife
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), series, as Lady Constance Weir — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as The Wife, Joan
- *Menace* (1970), series, as Mrs. Tetley
- *Who-Dun-It* (1969), series, as Miss Margaret
- *The Main Chance* (1969), series, as Alison Murray
- *Otley* (1969), as Jean
- *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Jeanette Hornby
- *The Jazz Age* (1968), series, as Miss Cummins
- *City '68* (1967), series, as Diana Stevenson
- *Drama 61-67* (1961), series, as Ann Shelley
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Greta
- *Dixon of Dock Green* (1955), series, as Rosie McCallion
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Maria

## Gallery

- ![The actress Phyllida Law receives an honorary doctoral degree (Dr. h.c.) from Mohammad Yunus, Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. (2013-07- (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/81686/gallery-7da0949987f7.jpg) The actress Phyllida Law receives an honorary doctoral degree (Dr. h.c.) from Mohammad Yunus, Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. (2013-07- (2014) — 2013-07-04-Honorary_Doctorate.jpg: Grey Geezer
derivative work: Regi51, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/2013-07-04-Honorary_Doctorate-2.jpg/1280px-2013-07-04-Honorary_Doctorate-2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The actress Phyllida Law receives an honorary doctoral degree (Dr. h.c.) from Mohammad Yunus, Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. (2013-07- (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/81686/gallery-4571ada7b546.jpg) The actress Phyllida Law receives an honorary doctoral degree (Dr. h.c.) from Mohammad Yunus, Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. (2013-07- (2014) — Grey Geezer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/2013-07-04-Honorary_Doctorate.jpg/1280px-2013-07-04-Honorary_Doctorate.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Phyllida Law at the Nanny McPhee London premiere (2005)](https://film.one/media/person/81686/gallery-af80f72cefaa.jpg) Phyllida Law at the Nanny McPhee London premiere (2005) — Caroline Bonarde Ucci at https://www.flickr.com/photos/caroline_bonarde/, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/PhyllidaLaw05.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photograph of actress Phyllida Law (centre) flanked by her daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson taken at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace when she rec (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/81686/gallery-757e2659bbf1.jpg) Photograph of actress Phyllida Law (centre) flanked by her daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson taken at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace when she rec (2014) — Jack1956, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Phyllida_Law_2014.JPG/1280px-Phyllida_Law_2014.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Phyllida Law (centre) flanked by her daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson (Investiture at Buckingham Palace when Phyllida Law received the OBE). (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/81686/gallery-b9b409fec02d.jpg) Actress Phyllida Law (centre) flanked by her daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson (Investiture at Buckingham Palace when Phyllida Law received the OBE). (2014) — Jack1956, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Phyllida_Law_with_Emma_and_Sophie_Thompson.jpg/1280px-Phyllida_Law_with_Emma_and_Sophie_Thompson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2014: Officer 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/phyllida-law