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Liz Smith

Liz Smith

Actor · Died December 24, 2016, aged 95 · Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 11, 1921
Died
December 24, 2016 (aged 95)
From
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 120 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 36% in 30 days

What are Liz Smith's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
20%
Morality
18%
Society
14%
Power
12%
Ideas
8%
Survival
3%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 4 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
11
Absurd
7
Joyful
5
Tense
4
Melancholic
6
Other
19

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Liz Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Liz Smith's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

120 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Antiques Rogue Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Olive Greenhalgh

  • City of Ember(2008)

    as Granny

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Flick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Ma

  • Lark Rise to Candleford(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Zillah

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Magic Flute(2006)

    as The Old Papagena

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Keeping Mum(2005)

    as Mrs. Parker

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Faces, Different Flavors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Oliver Twist(2005)

    as Old Woman

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit(2005)

    as Mrs. Mulch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Dead Cool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Liz

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005)

    as Grandma Georgina

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Paul O'Grady Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Imperium: Nero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sacrilega

  • Nero(2004)

    as Soothsayer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Between The Sheets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Anna Spud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Gran

  • A Good Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Lizzie

  • Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 13 episodes · as Voices

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby(2001)

    as Peg Sliderskew

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Peg Sliderskew

  • Donovan Quick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Granny

  • A Christmas Carol(2000)

    as Joyce

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Delfina

  • A Christmas Carol(1999)

    as Mrs. Dilber

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Oliver Twist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sally

  • Tube Tales(1999)

    as Older Lady (segment "Horny")

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Tom's Midnight Garden(1998)

    as Mrs Willows

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Alice in Wonderland(1999)

    as Miss Lory

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Wife of Bath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Hag (voice)

  • The Royle Family(1998)

    Show 10 episodes · as Norma 'Nana' Speakman

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Revengers' Comedies(1998)

    as Winnie

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Anthrakitis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Dolly

  • A Merry War(1997)

    as Mrs Meakin

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Trial & Retribution(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Dorothy Norton

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Secrets & Lies(1996)

    as Woman with Cat

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Karaoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs Baglin

  • The Queen's Nose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · as Grandma

  • Crapston Villas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 20 episodes · as Delia (voice)

  • Haunted(1995)

    as Old gypsy woman

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Vicar of Dibley(1994)

    Show 14 episodes · as Letitia Cropley

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Doggin' Around (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mrs. Thompson

  • Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 18 episodes · as Gran

  • Takin' Over the Asylum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Harriet

  • Pretty Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as regina madre

  • Son of the Pink Panther(1993)

    as Marta Balls

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Dakota Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Joan Benson

  • The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Delfina

  • Nona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Anyula

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Anyula

  • Bottom(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Fortune Teller

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • 2Point4 Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 10 episodes · as Auntie Belle · as Bette

  • Cluedo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mrs. White

  • El C.I.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mildred

  • Drowning in the Shallow End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Agent

  • The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover(1989)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Thompson

  • Apartment Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Mary Louise McKinney

  • Bert Rigby, You're a Fool(1989)

    as Mrs. Rigby

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Words of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gran

  • Young Charlie Chaplin(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • We Think the World of You(1988)

    as Millie

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • High Spirits(1988)

    as Mrs. Plunkett

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Jake's Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Witch

  • When We Are Married(1987)

    as Mrs Northrop

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Little Dorrit(1987)

    as Mrs. Bangham

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Lena Finn

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Imaginary Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Milly Munger

  • Valentine Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mrs. Giles

  • On the Palm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Mrs Slatterthwaite

  • Worlds Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Watts

  • The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs Fisher

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Tillie

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Harem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mrs. Pendleton

  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Florence

  • Mann's Best Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mrs. Anstruther

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent · as Gran · as Mrs. Slatterthwaite

  • A Private Function(1984)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • A Christmas Carol(1984)

    as Mrs. Dilber

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Partners in Crime(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah Macpherson

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Curse of the Pink Panther(1983)

    as Marta Balls

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Now And Then (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · as Gran - Then

  • Mr. Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gran

  • Fanny Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)

  • Separate Tables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Miss Meacham

  • Trail of the Pink Panther(1982)

    as Martha Balls (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Crystal Gazing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Lady in Pub

  • Britannia Hospital(1982)

    as Maisie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The French Lieutenant's Woman(1981)

    as Mrs. Fairley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Monster Club(1981)

    as Villager

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Lady Phillipa of Staines

  • Murder Rap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Elfie

  • Agatha(1979)

    as Flora

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mrs. Bag

  • The Duellists(1977)

    as Fortune Teller

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Stick Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Hotel Manageress

  • Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Peg Sliderskew

  • Spend Spend Spend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Keith's Granny

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1976)

    as La Falourdel

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mrs. Dodds

  • The Duchess of Duke Street(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nanny

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Ripping Yarns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Bag

  • Keep an Eye on Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mrs. Oxfam

  • It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Vi Bell

  • I Didn't Know You Cared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 27 episodes · as Annie Brandon

  • Breath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mrs. Pritchett

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Davies

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Taking Leave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Confused Lady

  • Village Hall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Whalley

  • Seven Faces of Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Madge

  • Bedtime Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Long

  • Jack Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mrs. Matthews

  • Second City Firsts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Murphy

  • Hard Labour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mrs. Thornley

  • Last of the Summer Wine(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Housekeeper

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Flynn · as Mrs. Fowkes

  • Bleak Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Pat's Mother

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Elfie · as Keith's Granny · as Mrs. Mathews · as Mrs. Oxfam · as Mrs. Pritchett · as Mrs. Thornley

  • Leo the Last(1970)

    as Raving Tenant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • In Loving Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hilda Pardoe

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 120 titles from 1969 to 2009; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

$193M worldwide

Highest rated

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19692009

Peak 2005 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting120 of 120: 120 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s27 · acting1980s38 · acting1990s31 · acting2000s23 · acting

Billing

usually 17th · top billed in 0% of 25 roles
72828797

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Liz Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 35; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Nero (2004)

69th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Secrets & Lies (1996)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Liz Smith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles8–60 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles24–66 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles26–65 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles10–57 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles13–63 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Liz Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Liz Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Helena Bonham Carter shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers