[5 July 2009] Announced that she was retiring, at the age of 87, because she had suffered a stroke which left her unable to accept any further acting roles.
Did not work professionally as an actress until the age of 50 and from that point, became one of the most recogniseable faces on television and film, being named as the nation's favourite fictional grandmother. Previous to acting, she lived a difficult life of relative poverty, working in dead-end jobs while raising two children on her own.
Has been in three different versions of "A Christmas Carol," twice as the same character. Played Ms. Dilber in two TV versions of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol (1984) (TV), with George C. Scott and A Christmas Carol (1999) (TV) with Patrick Stewart.
She had roles in two Oliver Twist films - the 2005 Roman Polanski adaptation and the 1999 I.T.V. mini-series. She portrayed separate characters in both versions.
She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2009 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Drama.
Was actually christened Betty, rather than Elizabeth.