Phyllida Law
Phyllida Ann Law OBE (born 8 May 1932) is a Scottish actress, known for her numerous roles in film and television.
Phyllida Law D.Litt OBE | |
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Law at the Nanny McPhee London premiere in 2005 | |
Born | Phyllida Ann Law 8 May 1932 Glasgow, Scotland |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1958–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | Emma Thompson Sophie Thompson |
Honours | Honorary degree, Glasgow Caledonian University |
Early life
Law was born in Glasgow, the daughter of Megsie "Meg" and William Law, a journalist.[1] She was married to actor Eric Thompson from 1957 until his death in 1982. Their daughters, Emma and Sophie Thompson, are both actresses.
Career
Law has worked extensively in television, including appearances in Dixon of Dock Green, Rumpole of the Bailey and the 1972 adaptation of the Lord Peter Wimsey tale The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. She appeared in films such as Peter's Friends (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) (playing Ursula, alongside daughter Emma as Beatrice) and The Winter Guest (1997) (playing Elspeth, alongside daughter Emma as Frances).
She was in the original London cast of La Cage aux Folles at the London Palladium in 1986, playing the role of Jacqueline.[2]
In 2004 she guest-starred in the Rosemary & Thyme episode entitled "Orpheus in the Undergrowth" as May Beauchamp. In 2007 she guest-starred in two Doctor Who spin-off adventures: as Bea Nelson-Stanley in The Sarah Jane Adventures story "Eye of the Gorgon" and as Beldonia in the audio drama Doctor Who: The Bride of Peladon. Also in 2007 she played Aunt Auriel in the drama Kingdom starring Stephen Fry. In 2008 she appeared as a guest star in Foyle's War.
In November 2009 Law published her first book.[3] Notes to my Mother-In-Law concerns the 17 years Law's mother-in-law lived with the family from the mid-1960s until her death. In January 2010 she appeared with Tony Slattery on Ready Steady Cook. She starred alongside John Hurt in a short film entitled Love at First Sight which was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2012.[4]
Awards
In 2013 Law received an Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.[5]
Honours
Law was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours by The Queen for services to drama and for charitable services.[6]
Film and television
- Play School (1964) (TV)
- Otley (1968)
- The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1972)
- A Picture of Katherine Mansfield (1973)
- Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
- Come Back Lucy (1978)
- The Barchester Chronicles (1982)
- Rumpole of the Bailey (1987)
- That's Love (1988–92) (TV series)
- The House of Eliott (1991) (TV series)
- Peter's Friends (1992)
- Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
- Taggart (1994) (episode "Forbidden Fruit")
- Before the Rain (1994)
- The Blue Boy (1994) (TV film)
- Junior (1994)
- Heartbeat (1994)
- Hamish Macbeth (1995) (TV)
- Emma (1996)
- Anna Karenina (1997)
- The Winter Guest (1997)
- The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)
- Mad Cows (1999)
- Midsomer Murders (1999) (TV)
- Saving Grace (2000)
- The Time Machine (2002)
- Monarch of the Glen(Series 4, Episode 2) (2002) (TV)
- Brush with Fate (2003) (TV film)
- I’ll Be There (2003) (film)
- Waking the Dead “The Hardest Word” S4:E9 (2004)
- Rosemary & Thyme (2004) (TV)
- Nanny McPhee (2005)
- Danny the Dog (2005)
- Mee-Shee: The Water Giant (2005)
- Afterlife (2005) (TV)
- Miss Potter (2006)
- Kingdom (2007—2009) (TV)
- The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007) (TV)
- The Waiting Room (2007)
- Miss Austen Regrets (2007)
- Foyle's War (2008) (TV)
- Hallowe'en Party (2010) (TV)
- Ways to Live Forever (2010)
- Love at First Sight (2010)
- Doc Martin (2010) (TV)
- Arrietty (2011)
- Midsomer Murders (2011) (TV)
- Albert Nobbs as Mrs. Cavendish (2011)
- New Tricks (2013) (TV)
- A Little Chaos (2014)
Published works
- Law, Phyllida (2009). Notes to my Mother-in-Law. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0007338412.
- Law, Phyllida (2013). How Many Camels Are There in Holland?: Dementia, Ma and Me. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0007485864.
References
- "Phyllida Law profile at FilmReference.com". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- "La Cage aux Folles – 1986 West End – Original West End Cast". BroadwayWorld.com. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- "The Bookseller". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- Ford, Rebecca (14 December 2011). "10 Live Action Short Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- "Actresses collect degrees together". BBC News. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- "No. 60895". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2014. p. b13.