Elizabeth Bell (20 March 1941 – 21 October 2012) was an English stage and television actress.
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Early life
Bell was born in 1941 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, the daughter of Elizabeth and Neil Bell. The family moved to Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire when she was four, after her father left. She attended the girls' high school there. She then decided to attend Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
In 1971 she was living with the architect Henry Osborne, and they were married in 2011. She died of oesophageal cancer on 21 October 2012.
Acting career
Her career was closely associated in particular with Alan Ayckbourn whom she knew from her early work in Scarborough to being her neighbour in London.
Bell appeared with English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre, the National theatre, the Almeida, the Pleasance, the Bush and in the West End. She appeared in the first season of the dedicated Theatre in the round at Stoke-on-Trent. Bell was also a regular on television and in radio productions. She was a founder member of the Victoria theatre, which is now known as the New Vic.
Bell went on to become a mentor for Central School students as well as an external examiner for Trinity College London.
Awards and criticism
1961 The gold medal and Sybil Thorndike prize, Central School of Speech and Drama, London
Alan Ayckbourn said of her:
To act with, she was a joy. To direct, she was often challenging, forever questioning, not content to accept things purely on face value and, like any good actor, never settling for anything less than dramatic truth. If that makes her sound a tough proposition, then once her questions were answered, doubts reassured, she was fiercely loyal to you and the production.
Stage
1966 Beset by Women in the Prince of Wales Theatre
1970 The Soldier’s Fortune in the Royal Court Theatre
1987 A View from the Bridge at The National Theatre
1989 The Revengers' Comedies at the theatre in the round at Scarborough
1990 Othello in Scarborough
1992 Euripides’ Medea at Almeida Theatre
1996 Goldhawk Road at Bush Theatre
1998 Richard III at The Pleasance
2005 The UN Inspector at The National Theatre
2007 The History Boys for the NT at Wyndham's Theatre
Filmography
Film
1998 Clinton: His Struggle with Dirt (TV Short)
1981 Hedda Gabler (TV Movie)
1976 Buns for the Elephant (TV Movie)
Television
2010 Midsomer Murders (TV Series)
2004-2008 Doctors (TV Series)
2008 Heartbeat (TV Series)
1997-2007 Casualty (TV Series)
2002 Foyle's War (TV Series)
2001 The Bill (TV Series)
1999 Wing and a Prayer (TV Series)
1987 The Diary of Anne Frank (TV Series) as Edith Frank
1986 Screen Two (TV Series)
1986 Lytton's Diary (TV Series)
1985 Juliet Bravo (TV Series)
1973-1984 Play for Today (TV Series)
1981 Prisoners of Conscience (TV Series)
1980 Premiere (TV Miniseries)
1980 BBC2 Playhouse (TV Series)
1977 Rooms (TV Series)
1976 Scene (TV Series documentary)
1976 Centre Play (TV Series)
1974-1976 Crown Court (TV Series)
1975 Churchill's People (TV Series)
1974 Melissa (TV Miniseries)
1974 Masquerade (TV Series)