Liz Smith
Known for Acting · 128 credits
- Born
- 1921-12-11
- Died
- 2016-12-24
- Place of birth
- Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK
- Also known as
- Betty Gleadle
Biography
Betty Gleadle (December 11, 1921 – December 24, 2016), known by the stage name Liz Smith, was an English character actress, known for her roles in BBC sitcoms, including as Annie Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared (1975–1979), the sisters Bette and Belle in 2point4 Children (1991–1999), Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley (1994–1996) and Norma Speakman ("Nana") in The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006). She also played Zillah in Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 1984 film A Private Function.
Known For
TV Shows (53)
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
Casualty
1986
as Tillie
Play for Today
1970
as Mrs. Thornley / Mrs. Mathews / Mrs. Pritchett / Mrs. Oxfam / Keith's Granny / Elfie
Crown Court
1972
as Mrs. Fowkes
Wogan
1982
as Self
V.I.P.
1998
as Self - Gossip Columnist
Tony Awards
1956
as Self (archive footage)
The Bill
1984
American Masters
1986
as Self
Last of the Summer Wine
1973
as Housekeeper
Screen Two
1985
as Mrs. Slatterthwaite / Gran / Agent
The Sweeney
1975
as Mrs. Davies
The Paul O'Grady Show
2004
V Graham Norton
2002
as Self
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
Lovejoy
1986
as Florence
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
1987
as Lena Finn
Performance
1991
as Anyula
Lark Rise to Candleford
2008
as Zillah
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
1992
as Delfina
Shooting Stars
1993
as Self
The Vicar of Dibley
1994
as Letitia Cropley
2Point4 Children
1991
as Bette / Auntie Belle
So Graham Norton
1998
as Self
Screen One
1989
as Mrs. Thompson
The Duchess of Duke Street
1976
as Nanny
Cluedo
1990
as Mrs. White
The Royle Family
1998
as Norma 'Nana' Speakman
Bottom
1991
as Fortune Teller
The Queen's Nose
1995
as Grandma
Oliver Twist
1999
as Sally
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
1983
as Hannah Macpherson
It's Only TV But I Like It
1999
as Self
Ripping Yarns
1976
as Mrs. Bag
Karaoke
1996
as Mrs Baglin
El C.I.D.
1990
as Mildred
In Loving Memory
1969
as Hilda Pardoe
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
2026
as Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
Worlds Beyond
1986
as Mrs Watts
Takin' Over the Asylum
1994
as Harriet
Crapston Villas
1995
as Delia (voice)
Between The Sheets
2003
I Didn't Know You Cared
1975
as Annie Brandon
Young Charlie Chaplin
1989
as Mrs. Greenwood
Nicholas Nickleby
1977
as Peg Sliderskew
Imperium: Nero
2004
as Sacrilega
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
1986
as Mrs Fisher
Bedtime Stories
1974
as Miss Long
Pirates
1994
as Gran
Now And Then
1983
Mr. Right
1983
as Gran
Valentine Park
1987
as Mrs. Giles
Mann's Best Friends
1985
as Mrs. Anstruther
Movies (75)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005
as Grandma Georgina
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
2005
as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
City of Ember
2008
as Granny
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989
as Grace
Oliver Twist
2005
as Old Woman
Secrets & Lies
1996
as Woman with Cat
The Duellists
1977
as Fortune Teller
Alice in Wonderland
1999
as Miss Lory
Keeping Mum
2005
as Mrs. Parker
Haunted
1995
as Old gypsy woman
The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
as Mrs. Fairley
A Christmas Carol
1999
as Mrs. Dilber
High Spirits
1988
as Mrs. Plunkett
A Christmas Carol
1984
as Mrs. Dilber
Little Dorrit
1987
as Mrs. Bangham
Trail of the Pink Panther
1982
as Martha Balls (archive footage)
The Monster Club
1981
as Villager
Curse of the Pink Panther
1983
as Marta Balls
Son of the Pink Panther
1993
as Marta Balls
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
Tube Tales
1999
as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
Dead Cool
2005
as Liz
Harem
1986
as Mrs. Pendleton
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990
as Self
A Private Function
1984
as Mother
Pretty Princess
1993
as regina madre
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
1997
as Mrs Meakin
Nero
2004
as Soothsayer
Fanny Hill
1983
as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
Britannia Hospital
1982
as Maisie
Tom's Midnight Garden
1999
as Mrs Willows
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
2001
as Peg Sliderskew
When We Are Married
1987
as Mrs Northrop
Agatha
1979
as Flora
Apartment Zero
1989
as Mary Louise McKinney
The Magic Flute
2006
as The Old Papagena
The Revengers' Comedies
1998
as Winnie
Flick
2008
as Ma
We Think the World of You
1988
as Millie
Leo the Last
1970
as Raving Tenant (uncredited)
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades
2000
as Delfina
An Evening with Lily Savage
1996
as Self - Audience Member
Keep an Eye on Albert
1975
as Mrs. Oxfam
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool
1989
as Mrs. Rigby
Doggin' Around
1994
as Mrs. Thompson
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
1976
as Mrs. Dodds
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977
as Mrs. Bag
Drowning in the Shallow End
1990
as Agent
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
2010
as Self
Donovan Quick
2000
as Granny
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Bleak Moments
1971
as Pat's Mother
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End
1980
as Lady Phillipa of Staines
Separate Tables
1983
as Miss Meacham
Nona
1991
as Anyula
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
1975
as Vi Bell
Jack Point
1973
as Mrs. Matthews
On the Palm
1987
as Mrs Slatterthwaite
Dakota Road
1992
as Joan Benson
Taking Leave
1974
as Confused Lady
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1976
as La Falourdel
Anna Spud
2003
as Gran
The Stick Up
1977
as Hotel Manageress
A Christmas Carol
2000
as Joyce
Words of Love
1989
as Gran
Wife of Bath
1998
as Hag (voice)
Crystal Gazing
1982
as Lady in Pub
Jake's Journey
1988
as Witch
Hard Labour
1973
as Mrs. Thornley
A Good Thief
2002
as Lizzie
Murder Rap
1980
as Elfie
The Antiques Rogue Show
2009
as Olive Greenhalgh
Anthrakitis
1998
as Dolly
Breath
1975
as Mrs. Pritchett
Spend Spend Spend
1977
as Keith's Granny
About Liz Smith
Betty Gleadle (December 11, 1921 – December 24, 2016), known by the stage name Liz Smith, was an English character actress, known for her roles in BBC sitcoms, including as Annie Brandon in I Didn't Know You Cared (1975–1979), the sisters Bette and Belle in 2point4 Children (1991–1999), Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley (1994–1996) and Norma Speakman ("Nana") in The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006). She also played Zillah in Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 1984 film A Priv… With 128 credits spanning from 1956 to 2026, Liz Smith has appeared in 75 films and 53 TV shows.
Fans searching for Liz Smith movies, Liz Smith filmography, or the latest projects starring Liz Smith can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Liz Smith Movies
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) — as Grandma Georgina
- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) — as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
- City of Ember (2008) — as Granny
- The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) — as Grace
- Oliver Twist (2005) — as Old Woman
Where to Watch Liz Smith Films
Most Liz Smith movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Liz Smith, check our movies catalogue and browse page.