Linda Bassett
Linda Bassett was born in the Kentish village of Pluckley - location for the television series The Darling Buds of May (1991). She was brought up in Pimlico, South London, by her typist mother and police officer father. She became interested in acting as a child when she was frequently taken to see plays in London, most notably at the Old Vic, the famous classical theater. On leaving school, Linda went to work at the Old Vic as an usherette and catering manager, before going to read English at Leeds University. However, she dropped out after a year and became involved in a local drama group which put on plays in community-based locations, such as schools. She regards this as her theatrical schooling, having had no formal training. She made her London stage debut at the age of 32 in 1982 and, in 1991, joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Although she was a well-regarded stage performer, it was the 1999 film version of the play East Is East (1999) (in which she had been an original stage cast member) which brought her to a larger audience and, throughout the 2000s, she has been a familiar face in a variety of films and television series. In the late 1980s, she returned to live in Pluckley.
Known For
Credits
- 2023 · The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry as Queenie
- 2018 · Careful How You Go as
- 2017 · Strike as Joan Nancarrow
- 2017 · Carnage: Swallowing the Past as Dr Yasmine Vondenburg
- 2014 · Effie Gray as Anna
- 2013 · National Theatre Live: People as Iris
- 2013 · Spies of Warsaw as Malka Rosen
- 2012 · The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby as Mrs. Smike
- 2012 · Call the Midwife as Phyllis Crane
- 2010 · West Is West as Ella Khan
- 2010 · Grandma's House as Grandma
- 2008 · The Reader as Ms. Brenner
- 2008 · Lark Rise to Candleford as Queenie Turrill
- 2008 · Cass as Doll
- 2008 · Sense and Sensibility as Mrs. Jennings
- 2005 · The English Harem as Monica Pringle
- 2005 · Colour Me Kubrick as Trolley Lady
- 2005 · Separate Lies as Maggie
- 2005 · Kinky Boots as Mel
- 2004 · Spivs as Auntie Vee
- 2004 · The Brief as Maureen Tyler
- 2003 · Calendar Girls as Cora
- 2003 · This Little Life as Nurse Nina
- 2002 · The Hours as Nelly Boxall
- 2001 · The Martins as Anthea
- 2000 · Don Quixote as Housekeeper
- 2000 · Lounge Act as
- 1999 · Beautiful People as Sister
- 1999 · East Is East as Ella Khan
- 1998 · Dinnerladies as Peggy
- 1998 · Far from the Madding Crowd as Maryann Money
- 1998 · Spoonface Steinberg as Mrs. Spud
- 1998 · Our Mutual Friend as
- 1998 · The Life and Crimes of William Palmer as Mary Thornton
- 1997 · Oscar and Lucinda as Betty Stratton
- 1997 · Midsomer Murders as Eileen Carnack
- 1996 · Alive and Kicking as Doctor
- 1996 · No Bananas as Ellen Slater
- 1996 · Mary Reilly as Mary's Mother
- 1995 · Haunted as Madame Brontski
- 1995 · Loved Up as Mum
- 1995 · Bramwell as Maud
- 1995 · A Village Affair as Gwen
- 1995 · Kavanagh Q.C. as Miss Haddon QC
- 1994 · In The Cold Light Of Day as Mrs. Loveless
- 1994 · Skallagrigg as Susan
- 1993 · Frank Stubbs Promotes as Eileen
- 1992 · A Touch of Frost as
- 1992 · Heartbeat as Beryl Palmer
- 1991 · A Small Dance as Sandra Matkin
- 1991 · Let Him Have It as Mrs. Miles
- 1990 · News Hounds as Virginia Lyddon
- 1989 · Paris by Night as Janet Swanton
- 1987 · Waiting for the Moon as Gertrude Stein
- 1986 · Casualty as Olwyn Humphries
- 1984 · The Bill as
- 1983 · Dramarama as