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Celia Imrie

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Celia Imrie
CBE
Imrie in 2011
Born
Celia Diana Savile Imrie

(1952-07-15) 15 July 1952 (age 72)
Guildford, Surrey, England
EducationGuildford High School; Guildford School of Acting
OccupationActress
Years active1973–present
ChildrenAngus Imrie

Celia Diana Savile Imrie CBE (born 15 July 1952[1][2][3]) is a British actress and author. She is best known for her film roles, including the Bridget Jones film series, Calendar Girls (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), the FX TV series Better Things (2016–2022) and the Netflix series The Diplomat (2023-2024 and renewed for a third season).

Early life and education

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Imrie was born on 15 July 1952 in Guildford, Surrey,[4][5] the fourth of five children of Dr. David Andrew Imrie, a radiologist from Glasgow, Scotland,[6][7] and Diana Elizabeth, née Cator. Her mother was a granddaughter of Sir John Ralph Blois, 8th Baronet, from an ancient Suffolk family.[8] Imrie was educated at Guildford High School, an independent school for girls in her home town of Guildford, followed by the Guildford School of Acting.[9]

Career

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Film

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Imrie's film credits include the mischievous Mrs. Selma Quickly in Nanny McPhee, Iris du Pré in Hilary and Jackie, Homily Clock in the 1997 film The Borrowers, House of Whipcord, Bridget Jones's Diary, Calendar Girls, Highlander and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Imrie played Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,[10] Matron in St Trinian's (2007), Claudia Bing in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016), Victoria Watkins in A Cure for Wellness (2016), Bif in Finding Your Feet (2017), Vice-Chancellor in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Mimi in Love Sarah (2020), and Imelda in Good Grief (2024).[11]

Television

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Imrie's television credits include Upstairs, Downstairs, Bergerac,The Nightmare Man, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Casualty, Absolutely Fabulous, and The Darling Buds of May.[11] Her favourite part was Vera in A Dark-Adapted Eye (1994) by Ruth Rendell.

From 1985 to 1989 she worked in the team with Victoria Wood in As Seen on TV, Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies, and in 1994 she appeared again with Wood in Pat and Margaret.[11]

With pride in her Scottish heritage she has played in Still Game, Cloud Howe, Taggart,[12] Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and Blue Black Permanent (1992).[13]

In 2000 she played Lady Gertrude in Gormenghast,[11] while in 2001 she was in Love in a Cold Climate with Sir Alan Bates. In 2002 she played Mrs Violet Pearman to Albert Finney's Churchill in The Gathering Storm. She appeared in the BBC television drama Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle (2005), appeared opposite Nicholas Lyndhurst in the BBC sitcom After You've Gone (2007–2008),[11] and opposite Stephen Fry in the ITV1 drama Kingdom[14] and with Dame Judi Dench in Cranford. In 2013, she guest-starred in the BBC's Doctor Who, playing the villainous Miss Kizlet in "The Bells of Saint John". In May 2016, she made her US television debut in the DC action-adventure series Legends of Tomorrow. In September 2016 she began starring as Phyllis in the FX series Better Things.[10]

Theatre

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After appearing as a chorus girl in many a pantomime, in 1975 Imrie got a job as an Assistant Stage Manager and understudy in the Royal Shakespeare Company with Glenda Jackson playing Hedda Gabler, directed by Trevor Nunn, on a world tour.[15] Also in the company at that time were Patrick Stewart, Timothy West, Peter Eyre, Pam St Clement, Jennie Linden and Fidelis Morgan.

In 1979 Imrie played in her first revue, Performing Ceals with Celia Foxe, which first opened at The Bonne Crepe and played at various venues in London ending up in 1980 at The Comic Strip.[16] Other plays include Seduced at the Royal Court Theatre, and Heaven and Hell at the Traverse Theatre. Imrie appeared with the company in the 1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons at the celebrated Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. In 1984 she played in Alfie with Adam Faith at the Liverpool Playhouse in a production directed by Alan Parker. In 1991 she appeared in The Sea with Dame Judi Dench at the National Theatre in London.[17] In 2005, after a successful run at the King's Head Theatre, her one woman play Unsuspecting Susan written by Stewart Permutt transferred to 59E59 Theaters in New York.[18][19] In 2009 she appeared in Plague Over England in the West End,[20] while in the same year she appeared in the world premiere of Robin Soans' Mixed Up North, directed by Max Stafford-Clark.[21] In 2010, she appeared alongside Robin Soans in a production of Sheridan's The Rivals.

In 2005 Imrie won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in Acorn Antiques: The Musical! playing Miss Babs.[11][22][23] In 1995 she played in The Hothouse at the Chichester Festival Theatre with Harold Pinter,[24] with the production after transferring to the West End. In 1990 she appeared in Hangover Square at the Lyric Hammersmith with Dudley Sutton,[25] in Drama at Inish (2011) at the Finborough Theatre with Paul O'Grady,[26] and in her cabaret Laughing Matters[27] – all adapted and directed by Fidelis Morgan.

In 2010 Imrie played in Hay Fever,[28] and during the 2011–2012 season she appeared in Noises Off at The Old Vic and the West End, for which performance she was nominated for an Olivier Award.[29] In 2016 Imrie re-united with Glenda Jackson after 41 years since their RSC world tour, playing a "grimly determined Goneril" in King Lear at The Old Vic.[30]

Imrie narrated during the ceremonial event held to mark the 75th anniversary of D-day at Portsmouth in 2019.[31]

Radio

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Imrie's radio work includes parts in BBC Radio 4's No Commitments and Bleak Expectations. In early 2007, she narrated the book Arabella, broadcast over two weeks as the Book at Bedtime. She was the guest on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 on 13 February 2011.[32]

She appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in October 2019. Her hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "A half-burnt candle".[33]

Books

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Her debut novel Not Quite Nice was published by Bloomsbury in 2015, had six weeks in the Sunday Times Top Ten, was cited by The Times as a 'delicious piece of entertainment', and also reached number 5 in the Apple ibook chart and 8 in Amazon's book chart.[34] Her second novel, Nice Work (If You Can Get It), was published in 2016;[35] and her third, Sail Away, was published in February 2018.[36] Her next work, A Nice Cup of Tea, was published in 2019.[37] Her fifth novel, Orphans of the Storm, was published in 2021.

  • The Happy Hoofer (2011), Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 978-1444709278
  • Not Quite Nice (2015), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1632860323
  • Nice Work (If You Can Get It) (2016), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1408876909
  • Sail Away (2018), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1408883235
  • A Nice Cup of Tea (2019), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1408883266
  • Orphans of the Storm (2021), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1526614896
  • Meet Me At Rainbow Corner (2024), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1526616357

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

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As part of the cast of the 2018 film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Imrie achieved her first UK Top 40 single alongside Lily James with a cover of the ABBA song "When I Kissed the Teacher", which reached number 40 in August 2018.[38]

Personal life

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Imrie lives in London and in Nice, France.[39] She has a son, Angus Imrie, born in 1994; with the actor Benjamin Whitrow.[40] Angus appears as her on-screen son in Kingdom (2007–2009) and has acted in other productions, having studied drama and performance at the University of Warwick.[41]

When she was 14, she was admitted to the Royal Waterloo Hospital suffering from anorexia nervosa. Under the care of controversial psychiatrist William Sargant, she was given electroshock and large doses of the anti-psychotic drug Largactil.[42]

In July 2005 she suffered a pulmonary embolism and was hospitalised for two weeks.[10][43]

Imrie was featured in the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in October 2012 and discovered that an ancestor on her mother's side was William, Lord Russell, a Whig parliamentarian executed for treason in 1683, after being found guilty of conspiring against Charles II.[44] Imrie's great-great uncle, William Imrie, was a founder of the White Star Line. Imrie is the ten-times-great granddaughter of the infamous Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset.[45]

In 2013, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Winchester.[46]

Honours and awards

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Imrie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to drama.[47]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
1973 Assassin Stacy's Secretary
1974 House of Whipcord Barbara
1978 Death on the Nile Maid Uncredited
1983 The Wicked Lady Servant at Inn
1986 Highlander Kate
1992 Blue Black Permanent Barbara Thorburn
1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Mrs. Moritz
1995 In the Bleak Midwinter Fadge
1997 The Borrowers Homily Clock
1998 Hilary and Jackie Iris Du Pré
1998 Hiccup Judy Short
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Fighter Pilot Bravo 5
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Una Alconbury
2001 Lucky Break Amy Chamberlain
2001 Revelation Harriet Martel
2002 Thunderpants Miss Rapier
2002 Heartlands Sonja
2003 Calendar Girls Celia
2003 Out of Bounds Dr Imogen Reed
2004 Wimbledon Lydice Kenwood
2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Una Alconbury
2005 Wah-Wah Lady Riva Hardwick
2005 Imagine Me & You Tessa
2005 Nanny McPhee Mrs Quickly
2007 St Trinian's Matron
2009 St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Matron
2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Enid Wicklow
2010 The Man Who Married Himself Mother Short
2011 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Madge Hardcastle
2011 My Angel The Librarian
2012 Acts of Godfrey Helen McGann
2013 The Love Punch Pen
2014 What We Did on Our Holiday Agnes Chisolm
2014 Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? Clara Keen
2015 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Madge Hardcastle
2015 Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism Edna the Cook
2016 Year by the Sea Erikson
2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Claudia Bing
2016 Bridget Jones's Baby Una Alconbury
2017 A Cure for Wellness Victoria Watkins
2017 Monster Family Cheyenne Voice role
2017 Finding Your Feet Bif
2018 Malevolent Mrs Green
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Vice Chancellor
2018 Nativity Rocks! This Ain’t No Silent Night Mrs. Keen
2020 Love Sarah Mimi
2022 Fifty-Four Days Gloria Short
2023 Love Again Gina Valentine
2023 Good Grief Imelda
2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy † Una Alconbury Post-production
TBA The Thursday Murder Club † Joyce Meadowcroft Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 Upstairs, Downstairs Jenny "If You Were the Only Girl in the World", "Missing Believed Killed"
1979 To the Manor Born Polly "A Touch of Class"
1980 Shoestring Sheila Johnson "The Dangerous Game"
1980 To the Manor Born Surgery Receptionist "Vive Le Sport"
1981 The Nightmare Man Fiona Patterson
1981 81 Take 2 TV film
1982 Cloud Howe Else Queen
1983 Bergerac Marianne Bellshade
1985– 1987 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Various characters
1988 Taggart Helen Lomax "Root of Evil"
1988–1989 The New Statesman Hilary "Alan B'Stard Closes Down the BBC", "May the Best Man Win"
1989 Murder by Moonlight Patsy Diehl TV film
1989 Victoria Wood Carol "We'd Quite Like to Apologise"
1989 Victoria Wood Jackie "Val De Ree (Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha)"
1989 Victoria Wood Julia / Spoof TV Ad actress "Staying In"
1990 Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Miss Jewsbury
1990 The World of Eddie Weary Birdie TV film
1990 Old Flames Davina Wright / Hopjoy
1990 102 Boulevard Haussmann Mme Massis
1991 Lovejoy Lady Felicity Carey-Holden "The Italian Venus"
1991 The Darling Buds of May Corinne Perigo "When the Green Woods Laugh (Parts 1 & 2)"
1991 All Good Things Rachel Bromley
1991 Stay Lucky Julie Vernon "The Food of Love"
1992 Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast Various characters
1992 Van der Valk Marijke Dekker "Still Waters"
1993 Bonjour la Classe Mrs Botney "Red Card"
1993 The Riff Raff Element Joanna Tundish
1993 A Question of Guilt Sissy Malton TV film
1994 A Dark Adapted Eye Vera Hillyard TV film[52]
1994 Pat and Margaret Claire
1994 The Return of the Native Susan Nunsuch TV film
1995–2001 Absolutely Fabulous Claudia Bing "Jealous", "Menopause"
1995 Casualty Elizabeth Clayton "Learning Curve"
1995–1996 Blackhearts in Battersea Duchess of Battersea
1996 The Writing on the Wall Kirsty TV film
1997 Hospital! Sister Muriel TV film
1997 Wokenwell June Bonney
1997 Into the Blue Nadine Cunningham
1997 The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Mrs Miller
1997 The Canterville Ghost Lucy Otis TV film
1997 Mr. White Goes to Westminster Victoria Madison TV film
1998 Duck Patrol Mrs Calloway "River Rage"
1998–2000 dinnerladies Philippa Moorcroft
1999 Wetty Hainthropp Investigates Nightclub owner TV Short
1999 Hilltop Hospital Surgeon Sally Voice role
1999 A Christmas Carol Mrs Bennett TV film
2000 Gormenghast Lady Gertrude
2000 Dalziel and Pascoe Christina Chance "Above the Law"
2000 Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings Various characters
2001 Love in a Cold Climate Aunt Sadie
2001 Baddiel's Syndrome Ruth Proudhon "Inventions Now"
2001 Station Jim Miss Frazier TV film
2001 Midsomer Murders Louise August "Dark Autumn"
2001 Randall & Hopkirk Professor McKern "Revenge of the Bog People"
2002 Heartbeat Sylvia Langley "The Shoot"
2002 The Gathering Storm Violet Pearman TV film
2002 Sparkhouse Kate Lawton
2002 A Is for Acid Rose Henderson TV film
2002 Daniel Deronda Mrs Meyrick
2002 Doctor Zhivago Anna Gromyko
2003 The Planman Gail Forrester TV film
2003 Still Game Mrs Begg "Wummin'"
2004 Jonathan Creek Thelma Bailey "Gorgons Wood"
2004 Doc Martin Susan Brading "Going Bodmin"
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Madame Joilet "4.50 From Paddington"
2005 Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle Miss Davies TV film
2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot 'Aunt' Kathy Cloade "Taken at the Flood"
2006 The Lavender List Mary Wilson TV film
2006 Where the Heart Is Gaynor Whiteside "Walk of Faith"
2007–2008 After You've Gone Diana
2007–2009 Kingdom Gloria Millington
2009 Cranford Lady Glenmire "Christmas Special"
2010 The Road to Coronation Street Doris Speed TV film
2011 The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff Miss Christmasham
2012 Hacks Tabby TV film
2012 Titanic Grace Rushton
2012 Lewis Michelle Marber "The Soul of Genius"[53]
2013 Doctor Who Miss Kizlet "The Bells of Saint John"
2013 Love and Marriage Rowan Holdaway
2014 Blandings Charlotte
2014 Our Zoo Lady Daphne Goodwin
2015 Vicious Lillian Haverfield-Wickham
2016 Legends of Tomorrow Mary Xavier
2016–2022 Better Things Phyllis "Phil" Darby Main cast
2018 Patrick Melrose Kettle
2018 Hang Ups Maggie Pitt
2020 Keeping Faith Rose Fairchild Series 3; Main role
2023–present The Diplomat Margaret "Meg" Roylin Recurring role

Theatre

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Source:[54]

References

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  1. ^ "Celia Imrie". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Interview: Celia Imrie, actress – News". The Scotsman. UK. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Star Profile: Celia Imrie". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 29 August 2003. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  4. ^ Mellor, Rupert (3 May 2003). "She wears it well". No. 67753. p. 5[S3].
  5. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Imrie, Celia (1952–) Biography".
  6. ^ "Celia Imrie – Awfully big adventure". Fabulousdames.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Rutland 28". William1.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  8. ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 402
  9. ^ Starnes, Anna; Tom van Klaveren; Eleanor Fleming (16 January 2021). "26 celebrities who went to school in Surrey". Surrey Live. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Nicholson, Rebecca. Celia Imrie: ‘People go wild when I tell them I was a fighter pilot in Star Wars, The Guardian, 22 September 2020
  11. ^ a b c d e f Biography of Celia Imrie, British Film Institute Screenonline
  12. ^ There's been a murder: Taggart at 25, The Independent, 7 September 2008
  13. ^ Blue Black Permanent, British Film Institute database
  14. ^ "Times Online Viewing Guide – After You've Gone". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  15. ^ The art of showing off, The Guardian, 19 March 2005
  16. ^ Performing Ceals, Fidelis Morgan website
  17. ^ Cast of The Sea (1991), Theatricalia website
  18. ^ "What's on Stage – Unsuspecting Susan". Whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  19. ^ Mitchell, Gabrielle (20 June 2005). "Variety Theatre Review – Unsuspecting Susan". Variety. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  20. ^ Koenig, Rhoda (25 February 2009). "Plague Over England, Duchess Theatre, London; Saturday Night, Jermyn Street Theatre, London – Reviews, Theatre & Dance". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  21. ^ Baluch, Lalayn (6 August 2009). "Imrie to star in world premiere of Mixed Up North". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Past Winners | The Official London Theatre Guide". Officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  23. ^ "Past Winners". Official London Theatre. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  24. ^ 1995: The Hothouse, Chichester Festival Theatre website
  25. ^ Hangover Square, the Fidelis Morgan website
  26. ^ Drama at Inish, the Fidelis Morgan website
  27. ^ Laughing Matters, the Fidelis Morgan website
  28. ^ Gardner, Lyn. Review of Hay Fever, The Guardian, 30 September 2010
  29. ^ Olivier Awards: full list of nominations, The Daily Telegraph, 15 March 2012
  30. ^ Billington, Michael. Review of King Lear, The Guardian, 5 November 2016
  31. ^ "Donald Trump And The Queen Join Allies For D-Day Celebrations". HuffPost UK. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  32. ^ Celia Imrie: Desert Island Discs, BBC Desert Island Discs webpage
  33. ^ "Gallery 14 – Room Five". qi.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  34. ^ Christie, Janet (2016). "Book review: Nice Work (If You Can Get It) by Celia Imrie". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  35. ^ "Nice work if you can get it". Kirkus Reviews. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Sail Away – Celia Imrie". Kirkus Reviews. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  37. ^ "A Nice Cup of Tea- Celia Imrie". Kirkus Reviews. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  39. ^ "Celia Imrie: 'They can age you too quickly, but there are still parts for women my age'". 20 August 2021.
  40. ^ Britten, Nick (11 April 2011). "Celia Imrie, the screen matriarch who couldn't bear to be married". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  41. ^ Lockyer, Daphne (3 June 2013). "Celia Imrie: Love and marriage? Gawd, no". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  42. ^ Christie, Janet (5 March 2016). "Interview: Actress Celia Imrie on her 40 years in showbusiness". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  43. ^ "How a brush with death taugh Celia to slow down. – Free Online Library".
  44. ^ O'Donovan, Gerard (10 October 2012). "Who Do You Think You Are? Celia Imrie, BBC One, review". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  45. ^ BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are?
  46. ^ "University celebrates Graduation 2013 at Winchester Cathedral". University of Winchester. 10 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  47. ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B9.
  48. ^ "Winning supporters: Lennie James and Celia Imrie". The Times. No. 64305. London. 13 April 1992. p. 6.
  49. ^ "Celia Imrie". Archived from the original on 4 November 2007.
  50. ^ Higgins, Charlotte (27 February 2006). "Ballet Billies triumph at the Olivier awards". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  51. ^ "Meet the 2017 Women in Film and Television Award Winners". WFTV. 2 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  52. ^ Udall, Elizabeth (1 January 1994). "Vera Hillyard was a part to die for". The Times. No. 64841. London. p. 6[S1].
  53. ^ Lacob, Jace (5 July 2012). "'Inspector Lewis' on PBS's 'Masterpiece Mystery': TV's Smartest Sleuths". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  54. ^ "'Stage productions all years' on official website for Celia Imrie". Celiaimrie.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
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