Liz Smith, born Betty Gleadle in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, was a renowned actress who rose to fame in her later years, defying the conventional notion that stardom is reserved for the young. Despite facing numerous challenges, including a broken marriage and single parenthood, Smith's determination and passion for acting propelled her to achieve great success.
Early Life and Career:
Smith's early life was marked by tragedy, with her mother passing away in childbirth when she was just two years old. Her father abandoned her and her stepmother when he remarried, leaving Smith to rely on her grandfather for support. She developed a fascination with acting at the age of four, when she began attending local cinema shows with her grandfather.
By the time she was nine, Smith was already appearing in local dramatic productions, often playing the role of elderly ladies. World War II intervened, and Smith joined the WRNS, where she continued to act in plays and entertainments. It was during this period that she met her future husband, Jack Thomas, and the couple married at the end of the war.
Breakthrough and Success:
Smith's big break came in 1970, when she was cast in Mike Leigh's film Bleak Moments, playing the role of a downtrodden mother. This was followed by her critically acclaimed performance in the BBC's Play for Today series, Hard Labour, which earned her critical acclaim and recognition.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Smith continued to appear in a wide range of TV programs, including Last of the Summer Wine, The Sweeney, and The Duchess of Duke Street. She received a Bafta for Best Supporting Actress in 1984 for her role in A Private Function, and went on to appear in films such as The Curse of the Pink Panther and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.
Household Name:
Smith's portrayal of Letitia Cropley in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley (1994) cemented her status as a household name. The character's eccentric recipes and mannerisms made her a beloved figure on British television. She went on to star in The Royle Family, playing the role of Nana, and appeared in a special edition of the show in 2006, in which Nana died.
Later Life and Retirement:
In 2006, Smith published her autobiography, Our Betty, and moved into a retirement home in north London. She continued to act, appearing in the BBC's Lark Rise to Candleford, before finally announcing her retirement in 2008 at the age of 87.
Legacy:
Liz Smith's remarkable life and career serve as a testament to her perseverance and dedication to her craft. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, she remained committed to her passion for acting, and her success is a shining example of what can be achieved with hard work and determination.
