Acting · Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK · Born December 11, 1921
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.
TVReality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
2026
as Self - Good Day New York (archive footage)
MovieThe Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
2010
as Self
The Antiques Rogue Show
2009
as Olive Greenhalgh
MovieCity of Ember
2008
as Granny
MovieFlick
2008
as Ma
TVLark Rise to Candleford
2008
as Zillah
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
MovieThe Magic Flute
2006
as The Old Papagena
MovieKeeping Mum
2005
as Mrs. Parker
MovieOliver Twist
2005
as Old Woman
MovieWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
2005
as Mrs. Mulch (voice)
MovieDead Cool
2005
as Liz
MovieCharlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005
as Grandma Georgina
TVThe Paul O'Grady Show
2004
MovieNero
2004
as Soothsayer
TVImperium: Nero
2004
as Sacrilega
TVBetween The Sheets
2003
MovieAnna Spud
2003
as Gran
A Good Thief
2002
as Lizzie
TVV Graham Norton
2002
as Self
MovieThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
2001
as Peg Sliderskew
TVThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
2001
as Peg Sliderskew
MovieDonovan Quick
2000
as Granny
MovieA Christmas Carol
2000
as Joyce
MovieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades
2000
as Delfina
MovieA Christmas Carol
1999
as Mrs. Dilber
TVOliver Twist
1999
as Sally
MovieTube Tales
1999
as Older Lady (segment "Horny")
MovieTom's Midnight Garden
1999
as Mrs Willows
It's Only TV But I Like It
1999
as Self
MovieAlice in Wonderland
1999
as Miss Lory
TVV.I.P.
1998
as Self - Gossip Columnist
MovieWife of Bath
1998
as Hag (voice)
TVThe Royle Family
1998
as Norma 'Nana' Speakman
TVSo Graham Norton
1998
as Self
MovieThe Revengers' Comedies
1998
as Winnie
Anthrakitis
1998
as Dolly
MovieKeep the Aspidistra Flying
1997
as Mrs Meakin
TVTrial & Retribution
1997
as Mrs Dorothy Norton
MovieAn Evening with Lily Savage
1996
as Self - Audience Member
MovieSecrets & Lies
1996
as Woman with Cat
TVKaraoke
1996
as Mrs Baglin
TVThe Queen's Nose
1995
as Grandma
MovieHaunted
1995
as Old gypsy woman
TVCrapston Villas
1995
as Delia (voice)
TVThe Vicar of Dibley
1994
as Letitia Cropley
MovieDoggin' Around
1994
as Mrs. Thompson
TVPirates
1994
as Gran
TVTakin' Over the Asylum
1994
as Harriet
TVShooting Stars
1993
as Self
MoviePretty Princess
1993
as regina madre
MovieSon of the Pink Panther
1993
as Marta Balls
Dakota Road
1992
as Joan Benson
TVThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
1992
as Delfina
Nona
1991
as Anyula
TVPerformance
1991
as Anyula
TVBottom
1991
as Fortune Teller
TV2Point4 Children
1991
as Bette
TVCluedo
1990
as Mrs. White
MovieNight of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
MovieSing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990
as Self
El C.I.D.
1990
as Mildred
MovieDrowning in the Shallow End
1990
as Agent
MovieThe Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989
as Grace
TVScreen One
1989
as Mrs. Thompson
MovieApartment Zero
1989
as Mary Louise McKinney
MovieBert Rigby, You're a Fool
1989
as Mrs. Rigby
MovieWords of Love
1989
as Gran
TVYoung Charlie Chaplin
1989
as Mrs. Greenwood
MovieWe Think the World of You
1988
as Millie
MovieHigh Spirits
1988
as Mrs. Plunkett
MovieJake's Journey
1988
as Witch
MovieWhen We Are Married
1987
as Mrs Northrop
MovieLittle Dorrit
1987
as Mrs. Bangham
TVThe Ruth Rendell Mysteries
1987
as Lena Finn
TVValentine Park
1987
as Mrs. Giles
MovieOn the Palm
1987
as Mrs Slatterthwaite
TVWorlds Beyond
1986
as Mrs Watts
TVThe Life and Loves of a She-Devil
1986
as Mrs Fisher
TVCasualty
1986
as Tillie
TVAmerican Masters
1986
as Self
MovieHarem
1986
as Mrs. Pendleton
TVLovejoy
1986
as Florence
TVMann's Best Friends
1985
as Mrs. Anstruther
TVScreen Two
1985
as Mrs. Slatterthwaite
MovieA Private Function
1984
as Mother
TVThe Bill
1984
MovieA Christmas Carol
1984
as Mrs. Dilber
TVAgatha Christie's Partners in Crime
1983
as Hannah Macpherson
MovieCurse of the Pink Panther
1983
as Marta Balls
Now And Then
1983
as Gran - Then
Mr. Right
1983
as Gran
MovieFanny Hill
1983
as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
MovieSeparate Tables
1983
as Miss Meacham
MovieTrail of the Pink Panther
1982
as Martha Balls (archive footage)
MovieCrystal Gazing
1982
as Lady in Pub
MovieMike Leigh: Making Plays
1982
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBritannia Hospital
1982
as Maisie
TVWogan
1982
as Self
MovieThe French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
as Mrs. Fairley
MovieThe Monster Club
1981
as Villager
MovieSir Henry at Rawlinson End
1980
as Lady Phillipa of Staines
MovieMurder Rap
1980
as Elfie
MovieAgatha
1979
as Flora
TVAn Audience with...
1978
as Self
MovieThe Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977
as Mrs. Bag
MovieThe Duellists
1977
as Fortune Teller
MovieThe Stick Up
1977
as Hotel Manageress
TVNicholas Nickleby
1977
as Peg Sliderskew
MovieSpend Spend Spend
1977
as Keith's Granny
MovieThe Hunchback of Notre Dame
1976
as La Falourdel
MovieIt Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
1976
as Mrs. Dodds
TVThe Duchess of Duke Street
1976
as Nanny
TVRipping Yarns
1976
as Mrs. Bag
MovieKeep an Eye on Albert
1975
as Mrs. Oxfam
MovieIt's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
1975
as Vi Bell
TVI Didn't Know You Cared
1975
as Annie Brandon
MovieBreath
1975
as Mrs. Pritchett
TVThe Sweeney
1975
as Mrs. Davies
MovieTaking Leave
1974
as Confused Lady
Seven Faces of Woman
1974
as Madge
TVBedtime Stories
1974
as Miss Long
MovieJack Point
1973
as Mrs. Matthews
Second City Firsts
1973
as Mrs. Murphy
MovieHard Labour
1973
as Mrs. Thornley
TVLast of the Summer Wine
1973
as Housekeeper
TVCrown Court
1972
MovieBleak Moments
1971
as Pat's Mother
TVPlay for Today
1970
as Mrs. Mathews
MovieLeo the Last
1970
as Raving Tenant (uncredited)
TVIn Loving Memory
1969
as Hilda Pardoe
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self (archive footage)
