Elizabeth Spender (born 1950) is a film and television actress known for her role in Brazil.
Early life and education
Spender is the daughter of concert pianist Natasha Spender (née Litvin) and the poet, novelist and essayist Stephen Spender. She studied drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Drama Centre London. She also attended an Arvon Foundation television play-writing course which was taught by Jack Rosenthal.
Career Among numerous television and film credits, she appeared in Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult film Brazil.
She has written two BBC TV dramas: Hedgehog Wedding (1987) produced by Innes Lloyd, and These Foolish Things (1989) which starred Lindsay Duncan. In the 1990s she wrote a series of Pastability cookbooks. In 2005 she published a memoir of her childhood, The Wild Horse Diaries ().
Personal life From 1990 until his death in 2023, she was married to the Australian actor and satirist Barry Humphries. They had met at a Groucho Club party in 1988.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1981Priest of LoveElsa Weekley1985BrazilAlison / 'Barbara' Lint1987The FelonsFlorence1996The Leading ManAnne
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1973Frankenstein: The True StoryBallroom GuestTelevision film1979Feet FirstFay FaithEpisode #1.31979PremiereTrudiEpisode: "Over There"1979Testament of YouthChristinaEpisode: "1918"1980The ProfessionalsHelen TippettEpisode: "Blood Sports"1980BBC2 PlayhouseConstanceEpisode: "The Happy Autumn Fields"1981Something in DisguiseAnnabelEpisode: "A New Life"1982Nancy AstorHenriettaEpisode: "Scandals"1984Oxbridge BluesGirl at partyEpisode: "The Muse"1984The Secret ServantMelinda Fay2 episodes1984Talk to MeKateTelevision film1986ScreenPlayMagdalena HofdemelEpisode: "The Mozart Inquest"1988Sherlock HolmesLaura LyonsEpisode: "The Hound of the Baskervilles"1991Selling HitlerValkyrie / Marlene4 episodes1998–1999Fast TracksJudy Brumfield3 episodes2023Barry Humphries: A TributeTelevision special
References
External links Elizabeth Spender at the British Film Institute