Phyllida Law facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phyllida Law
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![]() Law at the Nanny McPhee London premiere in 2005
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Born |
Phyllida Ann Law
6 July 1932 Glasgow, Scotland
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Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1958–present |
Spouse(s) |
Eric Thompson
(m. 1957; died 1982) |
Children | Emma Thompson Sophie Thompson |
Honours | Honorary degree, Glasgow Caledonian University |
Phyllida Ann Law (born 6 July 1932) is a talented British actress. She has appeared in many movies and TV shows over the years. She is also the mother of famous actresses Emma Thompson and Sophie Thompson.
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Phyllida Law's Early Life
Phyllida Law was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 6, 1932. Her father, William Law, was a journalist, which means he wrote for newspapers. Her mother, Meg, worked in a dress shop.
When the Second World War started in 1939, Phyllida and her older brother, James, were sent away from Glasgow for safety. This was called being "evacuated." They lived with family friends for a while.
Phyllida went to different schools during the war. When she was 13, she went to a boarding school in Bristol. A boarding school is where students live at the school.
After school, she first tried studying French and literature at university. But she soon realized it wasn't for her. She then decided to try acting. She joined the Bristol Old Vic School, planning to design sets for plays. But she quickly found out she loved acting instead!
Phyllida Law married actor Eric Thompson in 1957. They had two daughters, Emma and Sophie, who both became successful actresses. Eric Thompson passed away in 1982.
Phyllida Law's Acting Career
Phyllida Law has had a long and busy career in acting. She has been in many popular TV shows. These include Dixon of Dock Green and Rumpole of the Bailey.
She also appeared in several movies. Some of these are Peter's Friends (1992) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). In Much Ado About Nothing, she acted alongside her daughter Emma. She also appeared with Emma in The Winter Guest (1997).
In 1986, she was part of the first London cast of the musical La Cage aux Folles. She played the character Jacqueline.
Phyllida Law has also been in shows that kids might know. In 2007, she was in two Doctor Who spin-off adventures. She played Bea Nelson-Stanley in The Sarah Jane Adventures and Beldonia in an audio play called Doctor Who: The Bride of Peladon.
She also played Aunt Auriel in the TV show Kingdom, which starred Stephen Fry. In 2008, she was a guest star in Foyle's War.
In 2009, Phyllida Law wrote a book called Notes to my Mother-In-Law. It's about the 17 years her husband's mother lived with their family. In 2012, she starred with John Hurt in a short film called Love at First Sight. This film was even considered for an Oscar award!

Awards and Honours for Phyllida Law
Phyllida Law has received special recognition for her work. In 2013, she was given an Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things. She also received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II gave Phyllida Law a special honour. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized her amazing contributions to drama and her charity work.
Phyllida Law's Film Roles
Here are some of the movies Phyllida Law has appeared in:
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
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1968 | Otley | Jean | |
1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days | Fräulein Manzialy | |
1989 | Tree of Hands | Julia | |
1992 | Peter's Friends | Vera | |
1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | Ursula | |
1994 | Before the Rain | Mother | |
Junior | Dr. Talbot | Uncredited | |
1996 | Emma | Mrs Bates | |
1997 | Anna Karenina | Vronskaya | |
The Winter Guest | Elspeth | ||
1999 | Mad Cows | Lady Drake | |
2000 | Saving Grace | Margaret Sutton | |
2002 | The Time Machine | Mrs. Watchit | |
2003 | I’ll Be There | Mrs. Williams | |
2005 | Nanny McPhee | Mrs Partridge | Voice |
Danny the Dog | Distinguished Lady | ||
Mee-Shee: The Water Giant | Mrs. Coogan | ||
2006 | Day of Wrath | Esperanza de Mendoza | |
Miss Potter | Mrs. Louisa Warne | ||
2007 | The Waiting Room | Helen | |
2010 | Ways to Live Forever | Grandmother | |
Love at First Sight | Ruth | Short film | |
Arrietty | Sadako | UK English dub | |
2011 | Albert Nobbs | Mrs. Cavendish | |
2014 | A Little Chaos | Suzanne | |
2020 | Then Came You | Arlene Awd |
Phyllida Law's Television Roles
Here are some of the TV shows Phyllida Law has appeared in:
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1960 | ITV Television Playhouse | Julia Cathart | Episode: "Missing from Home" |
1964 | Play School | Nurse | |
1971 | Play For Today | The Wife | Episode "Evelyn" |
1972 | The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club | Marjorie Phelps | 2 episodes |
1973 | A Picture of Katherine Mansfield | Linda Burnell / Mother / Mrs. Beauchamp/ Mrs. Sheridan | |
1978 | Come Back, Lucy | Aunt Gwen | |
1982 | The Barchester Chronicles | Mrs. Stanhope | |
1987 | Rumpole of the Bailey | Honoria Bird | Episode: "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting " |
1988–1992 | That's Love | Babs | 10 episodes |
1989 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Lady Carrington | Episode: "The Incredible Theft" |
1991 | The House of Eliott | Edith Duglass | |
1994 | Taggart | Joan Mathieson | Episode: "Forbidden Fruit" |
The Blue Boy | Marie's Mother | TV movie | |
Heartbeat | Nancy Bellow | ||
1999 | Midsomer Murders | Felicity Dinsdale | Episode: “Blood Will out” |
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | Lady Margaret | TV movie | |
2002 | Monarch of the Glen | Isobel Hogg | |
The Swap | Rose Trenchard | ||
2003 | Brush with Fate | Maria | TV film |
2004 | Waking the Dead | Mrs. Carstairs | Episode: "The Hardest Word" |
Rosemary & Thyme | May Beauchamp | Episode: "Orpheus in the Undergrowth" | |
2005 | Afterlife | Irene Moser | Episode: "The 7:59 Club" |
2006 | Pinochet in Suburbia | Lucía Hiriart | TV movie |
2007–2009 | Kingdom | Aunt Auriel | 16 episodes |
2007 | The Sarah Jane Adventures | Bea Nelson-Stanley | 2 episodes |
2007 | Miss Austen Regrets | Mrs. Austen | TV movie |
2008 | Foyle's War | Lady Muriel Sackville | Episode: "Broken Souls" |
2010 | Doc Martin | Mrs McLynn | Episode: "Driving Mr McLynn" |
Agatha Christie's Poirot | Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe | Episode: "Hallowe'en Party" | |
2011 | The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff | Aunt Sobriety | |
Midsomer Murders | Mary Bingham | Episode: "Dark Secrets" | |
2013 | New Tricks | Eliza Belgrade | Episode: "Into the Woods " |
Books by Phyllida Law
Phyllida Law has written one book:
- Notes to my Mother-In-Law (2009)
See also
In Spanish: Phyllida Law para niños