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| Royle Family and Dibley actress Liz Smith dies aged 95 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Actress Liz Smith, who played Nana in the Royle Family and Mrs Cropley in the Vicar of Dibley, has died aged 95. | |
| A family spokeswoman announced that the Bafta winning actress had died on Christmas Eve. | A family spokeswoman announced that the Bafta winning actress had died on Christmas Eve. |
| Born Betty Gleadle in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, in 1921, she later gave herself the stage name of Smith. | Born Betty Gleadle in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, in 1921, she later gave herself the stage name of Smith. |
| She also had roles in 2point4 Children and Lark Rise to Candleford, and was the voice of Mrs Mulch in Wallace and Gromit's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. | She also had roles in 2point4 Children and Lark Rise to Candleford, and was the voice of Mrs Mulch in Wallace and Gromit's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. |
| A long road to stardom | |
| She was appointed MBE in 2009 and the Bafta for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Maggie Smith's mother in the 1984 film A Private Function. | She was appointed MBE in 2009 and the Bafta for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Maggie Smith's mother in the 1984 film A Private Function. |
| She announced her retirement from acting in 2009, following a series of strokes. | She announced her retirement from acting in 2009, following a series of strokes. |
| The death comes less than six months after her co-star and co-writer of The Royle Family, Caroline Aherne, died aged 52. | The death comes less than six months after her co-star and co-writer of The Royle Family, Caroline Aherne, died aged 52. |
| Ralf Little, who played Antony Royle in the sitcom, tweeted: "Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana. Xxx" | Ralf Little, who played Antony Royle in the sitcom, tweeted: "Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana. Xxx" |
| Andrew Whyment, who starred in both Coronation Street and The Royle Family, tweeted: "What a fantastic actress she was absolutely hilarious RIP lovely Liz x" | Andrew Whyment, who starred in both Coronation Street and The Royle Family, tweeted: "What a fantastic actress she was absolutely hilarious RIP lovely Liz x" |
| Richard E Grant, who acted alongside her in the 1997 film Keep the Aspidistra Flying, tweeted: "Liz Smith-I loved working with you on the George Orwell film and privileged to have played and danced together R.I.P. X" | Richard E Grant, who acted alongside her in the 1997 film Keep the Aspidistra Flying, tweeted: "Liz Smith-I loved working with you on the George Orwell film and privileged to have played and danced together R.I.P. X" |
| And choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne joined with the tributes, tweeting: "RIP #LizSmith Lovable actress who was totally unique and endearing. A true British legend." | And choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne joined with the tributes, tweeting: "RIP #LizSmith Lovable actress who was totally unique and endearing. A true British legend." |
| From factory girl to MBE | |
| By BBC obituary editor Nick Serpell | |
| Liz Smith found fame as an actress at an age when most people are considering retirement. | |
| It was a long road to eventual stardom, during which she struggled to raise a family after a broken marriage. | |
| She became best-known for her roles in The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family but her talents encompassed serious drama too. | |
| And while she made something of a name playing slightly dotty old ladies, the real Liz Smith was far removed from these on-screen personas. | |
| Read more in Liz Smith's obituary |