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Annette Crosbie

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Annette Crosbie
OBE
Born
Annette Ross Mcleod Crosbie

(1934-02-12) 12 February 1934 (age 90)
Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland
OccupationActress
Years active1959–present
Spouse
Michael Griffiths
​
​
(m. 1966; div. 1985)​
Children2, including Selina Griffiths

Annette Crosbie (born 12 February 1934) is a Scottish actress.[1] She is best known for her role as Margaret Meldrew in the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000). She twice won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, for The Six Wives of Henry VIII in 1971 and in 1976 for Edward the Seventh.

Also in 1976, she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 1976 film The Slipper and the Rose and she won the award for Best Actress at the Evening Standard British Film Awards for the same role. Her other film appearances include The Pope Must Die (1991), Shooting Fish (1997), The Debt Collector (1999), Calendar Girls (2003) and Into the Woods (2014).

Early life and career

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Crosbie was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland, as Annette Ross Mcleod Crosbie to Presbyterian parents who disapproved of her becoming an actress.[2] Nevertheless, she joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School while still in her teens. She began her career with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre Company in 1956.[3] She was educated at Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh.[4] Her big break came in 1970 when she was cast as Catherine of Aragon in the BBC television series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, for which she won the 1971 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress.[5] In 1973, she starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in the BBC serial A Picture of Katherine Mansfield.

In 1975, Crosbie made a similar impact as another queen, Queen Victoria, in the ITV period drama Edward the Seventh, for which she won the 1976 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress. She played Cinderella's fairy godmother in The Slipper and the Rose, which was chosen as the Royal Film Première for 1976. In that film, Crosbie sang the Sherman Brothers' song, "Suddenly It Happens". Crosbie voiced the character of Galadriel in Ralph Bakshi's animated movie, The Lord of the Rings, filmed in 1978. In 1980, she played the abbess in Hawk the Slayer. In 1986, she appeared as the vicar's wife in Paradise Postponed.[1]

Crosbie's next major role was as Margaret Meldrew, the long-suffering wife of Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson) in the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000) for which she is best known. She also played Janet, the housekeeper to Dr. Finlay, in the 1993–96 revival of A. J. Cronin's popular stories. She also had a poignant role in the thriller The Debt Collector (1999).

Crosbie's other roles include playing the monkey-lover Ingrid Strange in an episode of Jonathan Creek (1997), Edith Sparshott in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1997–2001), and Jessie in the film Calendar Girls (2003).

In 2008, Crosbie appeared in a BBC adaptation of Little Dorrit. In 2009 she played Sadie Cairncross in the BBC television series Hope Springs.[1] In 2010, Crosbie appeared in the Doctor Who episode "The Eleventh Hour" and in an episode of New Tricks. In 2014 Crosbie appeared in the movies What We Did on Our Holiday and Into the Woods. In 2015 she appeared in a BBC adaptation of Cider with Rosie. In 2016 she appeared in the new film version of Dad's Army. In 2019 she appeared in an episode of Call the Midwife.

In 2020, Crosbie appeared in an episode of the second season of After Life, a British black comedy-drama series created, written, produced and directed by Ricky Gervais, which premiered on Netflix.

Honours

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Crosbie was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1998 New Year Honours for services to drama.[6]

Personal life

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Crosbie was married to Michael Griffiths from 1966 until their divorce in 1985. The marriage produced two children, a son and a daughter. Their daughter Selina Griffiths, is also an actress.[7]

Crosbie is a campaigner for greyhound welfare.[8] From 2003–2006, she was president of the League Against Cruel Sports.[9] In 2014, she was a vice-president.[10] She was an honorary vice-president of the Scottish SPCA.[11]

Crosbie lives in Wimbledon, London.[12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 The Bridal Path 1st Waitress
1965 Sky West and Crooked Mrs. White
1968 Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter Maid (uncredited) (uncredited)
1972 Follow Me! Miss Framer
1976 The Slipper and the Rose Fairy Godmother Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1976 Mr Smith Anon Short film
1978 The Lord of the Rings Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien Voice
1979 A Question of Faith Sofya Andreyevna
1980 Hawk the Slayer Abbess
1984 Ordeal by Innocence Kirsten Lindstrom
1991 Chernobyl: The Final Warning Dr. Galina Petrovna
1991 The Pope Must Die Mother Superior
1992 Leon the Pig Farmer Dr. Johnson
1995 Solitaire for 2[13] Mrs Dwyer
1997 Shooting Fish Mrs Cummins
1999 The Debt Collector Lana Keltie
2003 Calendar Girls Jessie
2007 She's Not Dead Mum Short Film
2014 What We Did on Our Holiday Doreen
2014 Into the Woods Granny
2016 Dad's Army Cissy Godfrey
Eat Locals[14] Alice

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 St. Patrick's Day Lauretta TV Short
1962 ITV Television Playhouse Liz Episode: "The Morning After"
1962 Probation Officer Jennie Walker Episode 4.3
1963 BBC Sunday-Night Play Julie Neill / Galia Episodes: "The Greevy Column" & "The Reward of Silence"
1963 The Plane Makers Brenda Episodes: "The Dividing Line" & Them: Or Us?"
1964 Festival Miss Vaughan Episode: "The Inner World of Miss Vaughan"
1964 First Night Ada Churnley Episode: "Goodbye, Gloria, Goodbye"
1965–1968 Theatre 625 Sister Catherine / Masha / Jennie Thomson / Girl Episodes: "The Swallow's Nest", "The Seagull", "A Man Like That" & "Hermit Crabs"
1965 Story Parade Elsie Forrest Episode: "The Bachelors
1965 No Hiding Place Mavis Baker Episode: "It Could Always Happen"
1965-1970 The Wednesday Play Julie / Liz Episodes: "Wine of India" & "The Bond"
1966 This Man Craig Hanna Seaton Episode: "Dougie"
1966 Thirteen Against Fate Nell Episode: "The Murderer"
1966 Four People Martha Episode: "Mary Magdalene"
1967 Boy Meets Girl Mrs. Parkman Episode: "Long After Summer"
1967 The White Rabbit José Dupuis 3 episodes
1968 Half Hour Story Wendy Episode: "Venus Rising"
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Catherine of Aragon Episode: "Catherine Aragon"
BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress
1970 Callan May Coswood Episode: "Amos Green must live".
1970-1977 Play of the Month Frances Trebell / Miss Cooper Episodes: "Waste" & "Separate Tables"
1970-1980 Play for Today Nanny / Elsie Lorrimer / Catherine Episodes: "Jessie", "The General's Day" & "The Lie"
1970 Thirty-Minute Theatre Woman Episode: "Hope"
1970 Menace Jean Crowe Episode: "Killing Time"
1971 Shadows of Fear Mrs. Darbon Episode: "At Occupier's Risk"
1972 ITV Playhouse Joy Episode: "A Splinter of Ice"
1972 Crime of Passion Emilie Episode: "Emilie"
1972 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Nesta Episode: "A Bit of Vision"
1973 A Picture of Katherine Mansfield L. M. 5 episodes
1973 The Edwardians Margaret Lloyd George Episode: "Lloyd George"
1973 Special Branch Sarah Lovett Episode: "The Other Man"
1975 The Boy Dave Mavis TV film
1975 Rooms Miss Hicks 2 episodes
1975 Churchill's People Elizabeth Rush Episode: "March On, Boys!"
Edward the Seventh Queen Victoria 10 episodes
BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress
1976 East Lynne Cornelia Carlyle TV film
1977 The Velvet Glove Lilian Bayliss Episode: "Auntie's Niece"
1977 The Sunday Drama Noele Episode: "The Portrait"
1978 Lillie Henrietta Labouchere TV serial, 2 episodes
1978 BBC2 Play of the Week Helen Langrishe Episode: "Langrishe Go Down"
1979 The Lively Arts Various 1 episode
1979 Of Mycenae and Men Kassandra TV Short
1980 Festival: The Misanthrope Arsinoe TV film
1980 Twelfth Night Maria TV film
1981 Find Me First Henrietta TV Short
1981 The House on the Hill Christina Rogerson 3 episodes
1981 The Member for Chelsea Christina Rogerson 3 episodes
1982 East Lynne[15] Cornelia TV film
1982 Saturday Night Thriller Dorrie Childs Episode: "A Gift of Tongues"
1982 The Disappearance of Harry Lizzy TV film
1983 Crown Court Mrs Owen Episode: "Mother's Boy" (Part 1)
1983 Richard III Duchess of York TV film
1984 Dramarama Rose Episode: "Que Sera"
1984 Pericles, Prince of Tyre Dionyza TV film
1985 Off Peak Freda TV film
1986 Paradise Postponed Dorothy Simcox TV mini-series, 10 episodes
1986 Unnatural Causes Helen Episode: "Partners"
1986–1989 Screenplay Mrs Holders / Cynthia 3 episodes
1987 Taggart Maggie Davidson Episode: "Funeral Rites"
1987 Tickets for the Titanic Mrs Pollard Episode: "The Way, the Truth, the Video"
1987 Farrington of the F.O. Julia Episode: "That Old Black Magic"
1988 Game, Set and Match Mrs. Miller Episode: "London Match: Part 1"
1989 Take Me Home Liz 3 episodes
1989 Bonne espérance Miss Thurtson
1989 Summer's Lease Connie Tapscott 2 episodes
1990 Colin's Sandwich Joyce Episodes: "Out to Lunch" & "Frank"
1990–2000 One Foot in the Grave Margaret Meldrew 41 episodes plus Comic Relief sketches in 1993 (voice only) and 2001
Nominated – Best Light Entertainment Performance
Nominated – British Comedy Awards Top TV Comedy Actress
1991 Jute City Iris Kerr Episode 1.1
1992 Heartbeat Penelope Stirling Episode: "Old, New, Borrowed and Blue"
1992 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Irene Bell Episode: The Speaker of Mandarin: Part One
1993–1996 Doctor Finlay Janet MacPherson 27 episodes
1994 Performance 1st Labour MP Episode: Message for Posterity
1995–1996 Screen Two Dr Elizabeth MacKay / Meg Kelso 2 episodes
1997 Jonathan Creek Dr Ingrid Strange Episode: "The House Of Monkeys"
1997-1999 An Unsuitable Job for a Woman Edith Sparshott 4 episodes
1997 Underworld[16] Aunt Doreen 6 episodes
1997 Wyrd Sisters Granny Weatherwax voice - 6 episodes
1999 Oliver Twist Mrs Bedwin 4 episodes
2000 Anchor Me[17][18] Hattie Carter TV film
2001 Waking the Dead Moira Bowen 2 episodes: "The Blind Beggar"
2002 Bodily Harm[19][20] Sheila Greenfield 2 episodes
2001–2003 Murder in Mind Rose Buttimore Episode: "Rage"
2004 Black Books Moo-Ma Episode: "Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa"
2004 William and Mary Mrs. Driscoll Episode 2.5
2004 Quite Ugly One Morning[21] Mrs. Kincross TV film
2005 Bremner, Bird and Fortune Queen Elizabeth II Episode 6.4
2005 Midsomer Murders Amelia Plummer Episode: "Sauce for the Goose"
2005 Footprints in the Snow[22] Julie's Mum TV film
2006 Viva Blackpool[23] Mrs. Berry TV film
2008 Little Dorrit Mr F's Aunt 6 episodes
2009 Hope Springs Sadie Cairncross 8 episodes
2010 Doctor Who Mrs Angelo Episode: "The Eleventh Hour"
2010 New Tricks Miss Jones Episode: "Coming Out Ball (New Tricks)"
2013 Common Ground[24][25] Brenda Episode: Nell, Ted & Marlon
2014–2018 Lily's Driftwood Bay Nonna Dog Voice role
2015 The Vicar of Dibley Reverend Mavis Pipkin Comic Relief: "The Bishop of Dibley"
2015 Cider with Rosie[26] Granny Trill TV film
2017 Henry IX Charlotte, The Queen Mother 4 episodes
2019 Dial M for Middlesbrough Edna TV film
2019 Call the Midwife Clarice Millgrove Series 8 episode 2
2020 After Life Rosemary Series 2 episode 1

Radio Appearances

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Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1971 British Academy Television Awards Best Actress The Six Wives of Henry VIII Won
1976 British Academy Television Awards Best Actress Edward the Seventh Won
1976 British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Slipper and the Rose Nominated
1976 Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress The Slipper and the Rose Won
1994 British Academy Television Awards Best Light Entertainment Performance One Foot in the Grave Nominated
1995 British Comedy Awards Top TV Comedy Actress One Foot in the Grave Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Annette Crosbie filmography at the Bfi database Archived 15 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine accessed 7 January 2016.
  2. ^ Unipro Limited. "Interview: Annette Crosbie". Blockbuster.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Hope Springs, a new family drama for BBC One – Annette Crosbie plays Sadie Cairncross". BBC Press Office. 30 April 2009.
  4. ^ "Annette Crosbie". The Gazetteer for Scotland.
  5. ^ "BAFTA Television- Actress in 1971". British Academy of Film and Television Arts- www.bafta.org.
  6. ^ "No. 54993". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 30 December 1997. pp. 1–28.
  7. ^ "Annette Crosbie OBE". edinburgh-places.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. ^ "BBC Inside Out – Postcode lottery". Bbc.co.uk. 24 February 2003. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  9. ^ "The Enduring Legacy of Annette Crosbie". Birmingham Journal. 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ "The state of greyhound racing in Great Britain: A mandate for change" (PDF). League Against Cruel Sports. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Our world record dog walkies attempt!". CBBC News. 2002. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024.
  12. ^ "One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie reunited: 'I wanted Victor Meldrew killed off!'". ITV.com. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Solitaire for 2". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020.
  14. ^ Ivan-Zadeh, Larushka. "Film Review - Eat Locals". The Times.
  15. ^ "East Lynne - BBC Two England, 29 December 1982". BBC Genome.
  16. ^ "Underworld Part One (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Anchor Me [Part One] (2000)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Anchor Me [Part Two] (2000)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Bodily Harm Part 1 (2002)". BFI. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Bodily Harm Part 2 (2002)". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018.
  21. ^ Oliver, Robin (26 January 2006). "Quite Ugly One Morning". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. ^ "Must-see TV: Footprints In The Snow". Manchester Evening News. 16 February 2007.
  23. ^ "Viva Blackpool". BBC.
  24. ^ "Common Ground". Radio Times.
  25. ^ Keens, Oliver (25 February 2013). "Common Ground". Time Out.
  26. ^ "Cider with Rosie". BBC One.
  27. ^ "Good Behaviour". BBC Media Centre.
  28. ^ "One Foot in the Grave". BBC Radio 4 Extra.
  29. ^ "BBC Radio 4 FM - 6 June 1983 Listings". BBC Genome.
  30. ^ "The works of Robert Burns - Works read by Annette Crosbie". BBC.
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