Annette Crosbie (born 12 February 1934) is a Scottish actress.Annette Crosbie filmography at the Bfi database accessed 7 January 2016. 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, Crosbie 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 Crosbie was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland, as Annette Ross Mcleod Crosbie to Presbyterian parents who disapproved of her becoming an actress. 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. She was educated at Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh. 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. 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.

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

Personal life Crosbie was married to Michael Griffiths from 1961 until their divorce in 1985. The marriage produced two children, a son and a daughter. Their daughter Selina Griffiths, is also an actress.

Crosbie is a campaigner for greyhound welfare. From 2003 to 2006, she was president of the League Against Cruel Sports. In 2014, she was a vice-president. She was an honorary vice-president of the Scottish SPCA.

Crosbie lives in Wimbledon, London.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes1959The Bridal Path1st Waitress 1965 Sky West and Crooked Mrs. White 1968Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely DaughterMaid (uncredited)(uncredited) 1972 Follow Me! Miss Framer 1976 The Slipper and the Rose Fairy Godmother Evening Standard British Film Award for Best ActressNominated – 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 Voice1979A Question of FaithSofya 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 Mrs Dwyer 1997 Shooting Fish Mrs Cummins 1999 The Debt Collector Lana Keltie 2003 Calendar Girls Jessie 2007She's Not DeadMumShort Film 2014 What We Did on Our Holiday Doreen 2014 Into the Woods Granny 2016 Dad's Army Cissy Godfrey 2017 Eat Locals Alice

Television

Year Title Role Notes1961St. Patrick's DayLaurettaTV Short1962ITV Television PlayhouseLizEpisode: "The Morning After"1962Probation OfficerJennie WalkerEpisode 4.31963BBC Sunday-Night PlayJulie Neill / GaliaEpisodes: "The Greevy Column" & "The Reward of Silence"1963The Plane MakersBrendaEpisodes: "The Dividing Line" & Them: Or Us?"1964FestivalMiss VaughanEpisode: "The Inner World of Miss Vaughan"1964First NightAda ChurnleyEpisode: "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"1965Story ParadeElsie ForrestEpisode: "The Bachelors1965No Hiding PlaceMavis BakerEpisode: "It Could Always Happen"1965-1970The Wednesday PlayJulie / LizEpisodes: "Wine of India" & "The Bond"1966This Man CraigHanna SeatonEpisode: "Dougie"1966Thirteen Against FateNellEpisode: "The Murderer"1966Four PeopleMarthaEpisode: "Mary Magdalene"1967Boy Meets GirlMrs. ParkmanEpisode: "Long After Summer"1967The White RabbitJosé Dupuis3 episodes1968Half Hour StoryWendyEpisode: "Venus Rising" 1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Catherine of Aragon Episode: "Catherine Aragon"BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress1970 Callan May Coswood Episode: "Amos Green must live".1970-1977Play of the MonthFrances Trebell / Miss CooperEpisodes: "Waste" & "Separate Tables"1970-1980Play for TodayNanny / Elsie Lorrimer / CatherineEpisodes: "Jessie", "The General's Day" & "The Lie"1970Thirty-Minute TheatreWomanEpisode: "Hope"1970MenaceJean CroweEpisode: "Killing Time"1971Shadows of FearMrs. DarbonEpisode: "At Occupier's Risk"1972ITV PlayhouseJoyEpisode: "A Splinter of Ice"1972Crime of PassionEmilieEpisode: "Emilie"1972ITV Sunday Night TheatreNestaEpisode: "A Bit of Vision" 1973 A Picture of Katherine Mansfield L. M. 5 episodes1973The EdwardiansMargaret Lloyd GeorgeEpisode: "Lloyd George"1973Special BranchSarah LovettEpisode: "The Other Man"1975The Boy DaveMavisTV film1975RoomsMiss Hicks2 episodes 1975 Churchill's People Elizabeth Rush Episode: "March On, Boys!" Edward the Seventh Queen Victoria 10 episodesBAFTA TV Award for Best Actress1976East LynneCornelia CarlyleTV film1977The Velvet GloveLilian BaylisEpisode: "Auntie's Niece"1977The Sunday DramaNoeleEpisode: "The Portrait" 1978 Lillie Henrietta Labouchere TV serial, 2 episodes1978BBC2 Play of the WeekHelen LangrisheEpisode: "Langrishe Go Down"1979The Lively ArtsVarious1 episode1979Of Mycenae and MenKassandraTV Short1980Festival: The MisanthropeArsinoéTV film1980Twelfth NightMariaBBC Television Shakespeare1981Find Me FirstHenriettaTV Short1981The House on the HillChristina Rogerson3 episodes1981The Member for ChelseaChristina Rogerson3 episodes 1982 East Lynne Cornelia TV film1982Saturday Night ThrillerDorrie ChildsEpisode: "A Gift of Tongues"1982The Disappearance of HarryLizzyTV film 1983 Crown Court Mrs Owen Episode: "Mother's Boy" (Part 1)1983Richard IIIDuchess of YorkBBC Television Shakespeare1984DramaramaRoseEpisode: "Que Sera"1984Pericles, Prince of Tyre DionyzaBBC Television Shakespeare1985Off PeakFredaTV film 1986 Paradise Postponed Dorothy Simcox TV mini-series, 10 episodes1986Unnatural CausesHelenEpisode: "Partners" 1986–1989 Screenplay Mrs Holders / Cynthia 3 episodes 1987 Taggart Maggie Davidson Episode: "Funeral Rites"1987Tickets for the TitanicMrs PollardEpisode: "The Way, the Truth, the Video"1987Farrington of the F.O.JuliaEpisode: "That Old Black Magic"1988Game, Set and MatchMrs. MillerEpisode: "London Match: Part 1" 1989 Take Me Home Liz 3 episodes1989Bonne espéranceMiss Thurtson 1989 Summer's Lease Connie Tapscott 2 episodes1990Colin's SandwichJoyceEpisodes: "Out to Lunch" & "Frank" 1990–2000 One Foot in the Grave Margaret Meldrew 41 episodes plus Comic Relief sketches in 1993 (voice only) and 2001Nominated – Best Light Entertainment PerformanceNominated – British Comedy Awards Top TV Comedy Actress1991Jute CityIris KerrEpisode 1.1 1992 Heartbeat Penelope Stirling Episode: "Old, New, Borrowed and Blue"1992The Ruth Rendell MysteriesIrene BellEpisode: The Speaker of Mandarin: Part One 1993–1996 Doctor Finlay Janet MacPherson 27 episodes1994Performance1st Labour MPEpisode: 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"1997-1999An Unsuitable Job for a WomanEdith Sparshott4 episodes1997UnderworldAunt Doreen6 episodes1997Wyrd SistersGranny Weatherwaxvoice - 6 episodes 1999 Oliver Twist Mrs Bedwin 4 episodes2000Anchor MeHattie CarterTV film 2001 Waking the Dead Moira Bowen 2 episodes: "The Blind Beggar"2002Bodily HarmSheila Greenfield2 episodes2001–2003Murder in MindRose ButtimoreEpisode: "Rage" 2004 Black Books Moo-Ma Episode: "Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa"2004William and MaryMrs. DriscollEpisode 2.52004Quite Ugly One MorningMrs. KincrossTV film2005Bremner, Bird and FortuneQueen Elizabeth IIEpisode 6.4 2005 Midsomer Murders Amelia Plummer Episode: "Sauce for the Goose"2005Footprints in the SnowJulie's MumTV film2006Viva BlackpoolMrs. BerryTV 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"2013Common GroundBrendaEpisode: 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"2015Cider with RosieGranny TrillTV film 2017 Henry IX Charlotte, The Queen Mother 4 episodes2019Dial M for MiddlesbroughEdnaTV film2019Call the MidwifeClarice MillgroveSeries 8 episode 22020After LifeRosemarySeries 2 episode 1

Radio Appearances Good Behaviour (2014) on BBC Radio 4 One Foot in the Grave (1995) 4 episodes adapted from the British television sitcom of the same name, first aired between 21 January 1995 and 11 February 1995 on BBC Radio 2. The episodes are "Alive and Buried", "In Luton Airport, No One Can Hear You Scream", "Timeless Time" and "The Beast in the Cage". They are repeated regularly on BBC Radio 4 Extra. Old Harry's Game as Edith Cordelia Barrington (from series 6 onwards) on BBC Radio 4 The Price of Fear - Episode: To My Dear, Dear Saladin (6 June 1983) on BBC Radio 4 The works of Robert Burns (2016) for BBC Radio Scotland

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result1971British Academy Television AwardsBest ActressThe Six Wives of Henry VIII1976British Academy Television AwardsBest ActressEdward the Seventh1977British Academy Film AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleThe Slipper and the Rose1977Evening Standard British Film AwardsBest ActressThe Slipper and the Rose1994British Academy Television AwardsBest Light Entertainment PerformanceOne Foot in the Grave1995British Academy Television AwardsBest Comedy PerformanceOne Foot in the Grave 1995British Comedy AwardsTop TV Comedy ActressOne Foot in the Grave

References

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