Elisabeth Croft (22 September 1907 – 13 January 2003) was an English actress, known for playing Edith Tatum in the ITV soap opera Crossroads.
She is not to be confused with another English actress, Elizabeth Croft.
Personal life Croft was born on 22 September 1907 in Windermere. Withdrawn as a child, she nonetheless chose to be an actress. In the 1930s she landed roles in repertory theatre and co-starred with Seymour Hicks in Vintage Wine in the Daly's Theatre, 1934. She was married and had a son and a daughter. Croft died on 13 January 2003; on that day a new version of Crossroads was released.
Career
In 1966, Croft landed her first television role, a part in the ITV soap opera Crossroads, playing Miss Tatum. The soap originally featured actress Beryl Johnstone as postmistress Kitty Jarvis, sister of the series lead, motel owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon). Following Johnstone's death in 1969, the role of Miss Tatum was increased and she was coaxed from her life as a recluse and took over the running of the shop from Kitty, becoming one of the show's leading peripheral characters as the location increasingly became a focal point in stories. Croft later summed up her character: "Miss Tatum didn't suffer fools gladly and was a bit sharp at times, but she was a wonderful character". The role of Miss Tatum was quietly phased out following producer Reg Watson's departure. Croft left the series by 1979. Croft said of the show, "I suppose you would call it a quiet, humdrum show".
In 1940, Croft began working for Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. She appeared in many plays whilst there, such as Romeo and Juliet and The Merry Wives of Windsor. She appeared in the Armchair Thriller production The Limbo Connection. Her last appearance in television was in the BAFTA award winning The Dress in 1984, her last role before a long retirement. Whilst in the cast for The Dress, it won a BAFTA award in 1984.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 1965 The Wars of the Roses Richard III, Edward IV, Henry VI 3 episodes 1966–79, 1983 Crossroads Miss Tatum Series regular 1971 Crossroads: A Celebration Herself 1976 Within These Walls Agatha Mason 1 episode 1978 Armchair Thriller Mrs. Sangster 1981 BBC2 Playhouse Neighbour 1985 Crossroads Revisited Herself TV documentary 1994 Crossroads: 30 Years On
Film Year Title Role 1984 The Dress Old Lady
Stage/Theatre Year Title Role 1934 Vintage Wine Minor Role 1940 Romeo and Juliet Nurse The Merry Wives of Windsor Mistress Quickly 1964 Henry IV Part 1 Various Roles
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