Our Betty
by Liz Smith
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Description
Liz Smith, once called the nation's favourite fictional grandmother, is a familiar face to all TV and cinema viewers. She is most often recognised for her role of Nana in The Royle Family and has appeared in numerous productions over the years. OUR BETTY is Liz's life story - from her cosseted yet lonely childhood with her beloved grandparents (her mother died giving birth to Liz's stillborn sibling), through the war with the WRENS, marriage and children, divorce and poverty, long years show more working in dead-end jobs such as in a plastic bag factory, until her heavenly escape of evening acting classes provided the chance for a career. While working at Hamley's one Christmas ('I was one of those tiresome people who stop you and beg you to try samples of this and that'), she received a phone call from a young director who wanted to make an improvised film. His name was Mike Leigh and the film Bleak Moments. From that point, when Liz was 50, her career took off and she has worked with some of the most famous names in the entertainment business. OUR BETTY is, like its author, original, amusing and fascinating on the struggles, hopes and successes endemic of a life in front of the camera. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
This is not so much a biography as an old lady sitting in a chair and telling one stories from her life. This works well for Liz Smith and makes for a most enjoyable read.
The one reservation that I have is that, rather like that old lady, the narrative drifts off into a gentle slumber at the end.
The one reservation that I have is that, rather like that old lady, the narrative drifts off into a gentle slumber at the end.
Ratings
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Author Information
2+ Works 89 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2006
- People/Characters
- Wilfred; Baby Vickers; Miss Goy; Grandad Foster; Mrs Hobson; Mr Barley (show all 170); Mrs Barley; Nora Travis; Miss Tallentine; Mr Bee; Mrs Bee; Selina Bee; Miss Judson; Mr Robinson; Mrs Robinson; Fanny Roper; Piano Teacher; Connie Green; Mr Jacklin; Mrs Jacklin; Mrs Dixon; Mrs Thompson; Mrs Williams; Great-Grandfather Jonathan; Great Aunt Hetty; Jack the Horse; George the Embalmer; Grandad Bob; Gran Liza; Uncle Billy; Mrs Sellick; Olive the Dressmaker; Herbert Clayton; Ralph Richardson; Gipsy Moth Pilot; Snake Man; Jack Thomas; The Milkman; Bob the Junk Shop Man; Jim the Coalman; The Lamp-lighter; Ian McNab; Blind Man; Miss Poker Erskine; Queen Mary; Bill Owen; Peter Tinniswood; Robin Bailey; Stephen Rea; Anita Carey; John Comer; Yootha Joyce; Hugh Leonard; John Le Mesurier; Thora Hird; Alan Bennett; Maggie Smith; Michael Palin; John Normington; Richard Griffiths; Denholm Elliott; Amanda Gregan; Bill Paterson; Jim Carter; Pete Postlethwaite; Richard Briers; Dora Bryan; Barabbas the Cat; Yorick the Cat; Dolly the Horse; Professor J. Richardson; The Rates Man; Rita Webb; Ewan MacColl; Diana Dors; Joan Littlewood; Stanislas Ziegmunt Ifeorski Leinkerwitz; David the Fishmonger; Auntie Laura; Charles Marowitz; Mike Leigh; Sarah Stephenson; Tony Garnett; Mrs Flynn; Polly Hemingway; Bernard Hill; Alison Steadman; Al Parker; Colin Firth; Martin Donovan; Charlie the Parrot; Sara Keene; Ginger Corbett; Nicola McAuliffe; Robert Powell; Jim Broadbent; Tim Spall; Timothy Spall; Sue Brown; Jane Horrocks; Maurice Denham; Stephen Warbeck; Les Dawson; Simon Curtis; John Schlesinger; Julie Christie; Allan Bates; Roman Polanski; Alan Bleasdale; Renny Rye; Sophie Myles; Michael Bertenshaw; Paul O'Grady; Peter O'Toole; Denise Coffey; Trevor Howard; Viv Stanshall; Vivian Stanshall; J.G. Devlin; Matthew Warchus; Geoffrey Hutchings; Michael Gambon; Lee Evans; Tiny Winters Trio; Ella Warren; Colin Gregg; Alan Bates; Gary Oldman; Frances Barber; Max Wall; Alan Ayckbourn; Helena Bonham Carter; Malcolm Mowbray; Sam Neill; Kristin Scott Thomas; Rupert Graves; Charlotte Coleman; John Wood; Anita Dobson; Martin Clunes; Patricia Hodge; Julie T. Wallace; Miriam Margolyes; Peter Greenaway; Peter Sellars; Lynda La Plante; Marilyn Taylerson; John Bratby; Patti Bratby; Dawn French; Caroline Aherne; Craig Cash; Sue Johnston; Ricky Tomlinson; Tony Cranstoun; Ralf Little; Doreen Keough; Peter Martin; Tim Burton; Jessica Stevenson; Johnny Depp; Niall Johnson; Rowan Atkinson; Patrick Swayze; Wallace & Gromit; Nick Park; Steve Box; Veronica J. Huthwaite; Jimmy the Donkey; Graham Norton
- Important places
- Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, UK; Box Hill, Surrey, England, UK; Talbot Road, London, England, UK; Portobello Road, London, England, UK; Epping, Essex, England, UK; Woodford Green, London, England, UK (show all 12); Unity Theatre, Somers Town, London, England, UK; Butlins, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK (headquarters); Hamleys, London, England, UK; Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK; Prague, Czech Republic; Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, Kent, England, UK
- Important events
- World War II
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 791.45028092 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Public performances Motion pictures, radio, television, podcasting Television Acting Biography
- LCC
- PN1992.4 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Broadcasting Television broadcasts
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 65
- Popularity
- 478,493
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.97)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
