Linda Bassett

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Linda Bassett
Born (1950-02-04) 4 February 1950 (age 75)
Pluckley, Kent, England
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present

Linda Bassett (born 4 February 1950) is an English actress. Her television credits include Victoria Wood's dinnerladies (1999), Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–11), Grandma's House (2010–12) and Call the Midwife (2015–present).

Contents

She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1999 film East Is East and for the Evening Standard Award for Best Actress for the 2013 revival of the play Roots at the Donmar Warehouse.

Early life and education

Bassett was born in Pluckley, Kent, England, to a typist mother and a police officer father. [1] She moved to Pimlico, London, at a young age, where her passion for drama blossomed, as her family often watched classic plays at the Old Vic Theatre. [2]

Bassett worked as an usher for the National Theatre at the Old Vic whilst a schoolgirl, before enrolling at The University of Leeds. She dropped out of university after one year to work in a community drama group. [2]

Career

Bassett's career began in the theatre. Her first professional work was in community and educational theatre in the 1970s. [3]

In film, she first gained notice when she was cast as Gertrude Stein opposite Linda Hunt as Alice B. Toklas in Waiting for the Moon in 1987. She also appeared as Julia Roberts' mother in Mary Reilly in 1996 and had the award-winning role of Ella Khan in the 1999 British comedy film East is East . Other roles include Mrs. Brenner, the prison official in the 2008 film The Reader, Cora in Calendar Girls (March), Mrs. Jennings in the three-part BBC adaptation Sense and Sensibility , Queenie Turrill in Lark Rise to Candleford , Doll in the film Cass . Most recently she played Grandma in the BBC Two comedy Grandma's House . Since 2015, she has portrayed Nurse Phyllis Crane on the BBC One drama series Call the Midwife .

Personal life

Bassett lives in Kent, in a village close to her birthplace. [4]

Filmography

YearFilm / TVRoleNotes
1987 Waiting for the Moon Gertrude Stein
1988DramaramaMeg CrawfordTV series (1 episode: "Making Waves")
Paris by NightJanet Swanton
1989TraffikRachel LithgowTV series (4 episodes)
BoonMrs. SheridanTV series (1 episode: "In It for the Monet")
1990 Screen One Virginia LyddonTV series (1 episode: "News Hound")
The Bill Shena JacksonTV series (2 episodes)
1991A Small DanceSandra Matkin
4 PlayPhyllis TwiggTV series (1 episode: "Say Hello to the Real Dr. Snide")
Let Him Have ItMrs. Miles
1994 Love Hurts JaniceTV series (1 episode: "Blue Heaven")
A Touch of Frost Mrs. CornishTV series (1 episode: "Nothing to Hide")
Screen TwoMrs. Loveless/SusanTV series (2 episodes)
Frank StubbsEileenTV series (1 episode: "Babies")
1995A Village AffairGwenTV film
The Bill Chrissie BatesTV series (1 episode: "Old Habitats")
BramwellMaudTV mini-series (1 episode: "Episode #1.7")
Loved UpMotherTV film
The Peter Principle Iris JenningsTV series (1 episode: "Pilot")
Haunted Madam Brontski
EastEnders Bridget GilsenanTV series (1 episode)
1996 Mary Reilly Mary's MotherFilm
Casualty Olwyn HumphriesTV series (1 episode: "Asking for Miracles")
No BananasEllen SlaterTV mini-series (10 episodes)
Indian Summer DoctorFilm
1997Kavanagh QCMiss Haddon QCTV series (1 episode: "Mute of Malice")
Oscar and LucindaBetty Stratton
1998Spoonface SteinbergMrs. SpudTV film
The Life and Crimes of William PalmerMary ThorntonTV film
Our Mutual FriendAbby PottersonTV mini-series (2 episodes)
Far from the Madding CrowdMaryann MoneyTV film
Out of Hours Carol-Ann KumarTV mini-series
1999 East is East Ella KhanNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Beautiful People SisterFilm
dinnerladies PeggyTV series (1 episode: "Trouble")
2000Lounge ActVoiceShort
Don QuixoteHousekeeperTV film
Losing ItTom's MotherTV film
2001 The Martins Anthea
2002The Last TimeEvelynShort
The Hours Nelly Boxall
2003 This Little Life Nurse NinaTV film
Calendar Girls CoraFilm
2004SpivsAuntie Vee
The Brief Maureen TylerTV series (8 episodes: 2004–2005)
2005 Separate Lies Maggie
Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish StoryTrolley Lady
Kinky Boots MelanieFilm
Heartbeat Beryl PalmerTV series (1 episode: "Burden of Proof")
The English HaremMonica PringleTV film
2007 Midsomer Murders Eileen CarnackTV series (1 episode: "The Animal Within")
2008 Sense and Sensibility Mrs. JenningsTV mini-series (3 episodes)
Cass DollFilm
The Reader Ms. Brenner
Lark Rise to Candleford Queenie TurrillTV series (40 episodes: 2008–2011)
2010 West Is West Ella Khan
Grandma's House GrandmaTV series (12 episodes: 2010–2012)
2012Nick NicklebyMrs. SmikeTV series (4 episodes: 2012–present)
2013 Spies of Warsaw Malka RosenBBC miniseries
2015–2017 Twirlywoos Narratorchildren's TV show
2015– Call the Midwife Nurse Phyllis CraneTV series
2017 Carnage Dr Yasmine VondenburgMockumentary
2022 Strike Joan NancarrowTV series (Troubled Blood)
2023 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Queenie Hennessy

Theatre

Among her most notable stage roles were those in:

References

  1. ↑ "Linda Bassett Biography (1950-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Linda Bassett". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "Linda Bassett: Sharing a fenland cottage with Caryl Churchill changed my career". TheGuardian.com . 30 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "20 Questions With…Linda Bassett". WhatsOnStage.com. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Wiegand, Interview by Chris (10 February 2016). "Sunshine and terrible rage: Linda Bassett on Caryl Churchill's Escaped Alone". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Gilbert, Sophie (21 February 2017). "'Escaped Alone' Finds Comfort at the End of the World". The Atlantic. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - Drama, Escaped Alone". BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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