2016 is almost behind us, and it will be a year that is remembered by many because of all of the celebrity deaths that have taken place. Unfortunately, on December 24, Liz Smith was also added to that number. She is probably best known for playing Mrs. Cropley on the Vicar of Dibley as well as playing Nana in The Royal Family.
She was born in Lincolnshire in 1921 as Betty Gleadle, later adopting the stage name of Liz Smith. When we look back at what she was able to do in front of the camera, we can echo the feelings of BBC when they said that she “brilliantly captured the grandparents in everyone’s family,” adding “it feels like we’ve lost a cherished figure from our lives.” Liz Smith was not only well-known as Nana and Mrs. Cropley, she also played a number of other roles as well. Those roles included shows such as Lark Rise to Candleford and 2point4 Children.
She also was a voice actress, playing Mrs. Mulch in the “Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” After suffering from a series of strokes, she retired from acting in 2009.
Another costar of The Royal Family, Caroline Aherne, also passed away less than six months ago. She was only 52 years old.
Her real breakthrough moment came in the film, Bleak Moments, shot in 1970. At the time, she was demonstrating toys while working at Hamleys. The director of bleak moments said that for years, people would ask who the woman was with the funny face and wearing the funny hat. It turns out it was Liz Smith! He considered her a “breath of fresh air.”
He recalled that at one time, she toke her teeth out while filming. He consider her to be eccentric, a bohemian and kind of hippy in a way.
Those who knew her knew that she was a vegetarian, had a lot of cats and was a genuine person that was easy to love. She also enjoyed buying houses and bought and sold them regularly. They joked that they thought it was because she couldn’t make up her mind.
Ricky Tomlinson, who played Jim Royle, said he was “really, really facinated” by her, adding, “She bought her first house, she told me, without going inside the front door. She got the money together, knocked on the door, the fella opened the door and she gave him [the estate agent] the money.”
He said that they were as close as family and she would come in just to sit and visit on her days off. When they filmed the episode in 2006 where Nana died, he said that the normal laughter on the set was absent.
Craig Cash, who was Dave Best on the show, had the following to say: “You felt both reassurance and excitement when handing Liz a script. It was like handing the baton to Usain Bolt, you knew she wouldn’t just run with it – she’d practically fly.”
Ralph Little, who played Antony Royal tweeted the following: “Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana. Xxx”
Many other people had kind words to say about Liz, including Richard Grant, who was in the film Aspidistra Flying and Andrew Whyment, who was both in The Royle Family and Coronation Street.
Lisbeth was just coming into her prime as an actress when most people are at the age where they consider retirement. It took a while until she achieved stardom and during that time, she struggled to raise a family after her marriage had failed.
She is perhaps best known for her roles in The Royle Familiy and the Vicar of Dibley but she also played parts in serious drama as well.
Although she played the part of a slightly dotty old lady, in real life, she was actually far removed from it.
Via: BBC
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