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Phyllida Law

Colour photograph of Phyllida Law at the 'Nanny McPhee London film premiere in 2005
Law at the Nanny McPhee London premiere in 2005
Born
Phyllida Ann Law

(1932-07-06) 6 July 1932 (age 92)
Glasgow, Scotland
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.

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!

Phyllida Law 2014
Phyllida Law (centre) with her daughters Sophie Thompson and Emma Thompson when she received her OBE.
2013-07-04-Honorary Doctorate-2
Phyllida Law receives an honorary doctorate from Muhammad Yunus in 2013.

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
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
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Phyllida Law para niños

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