Linda Bassett


Linda Bassett is an English actress. Her television credits include Victoria Wood's dinnerladies, Lark Rise to Candleford, Grandma's House and Call the Midwife.
She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1999 film East Is East and for the Evening Standard Award for Best Actress for the 2013 revival of the play Roots at the Donmar Warehouse.

Early life and education

Bassett was born in Pluckley, Kent, England, to a typist mother and a police officer father. She moved to Pimlico, London, at a young age, where her passion for drama blossomed, as her family often watched classic plays at the Old Vic Theatre.
Bassett worked as an usher for the National Theatre at the Old Vic whilst a schoolgirl, before enrolling at The University of Leeds. She dropped out of university after one year to work in a community drama group.

Career

Bassett's career began in the theatre. Her first professional work was in community and educational theatre in the 1970s.
In film, she first gained notice when she was cast as Gertrude Stein opposite Linda Hunt as Alice B. Toklas in Waiting for the Moon in 1987. She also appeared as Julia Roberts' mother in Mary Reilly in 1996 and had the award-winning role of Ella Khan in the 1999 British comedy film East is East. Other roles include Mrs. Brenner, the prison official in the 2008 film The Reader, Cora in Calendar Girls, Mrs. Jennings in the three-part BBC adaptation Sense and Sensibility, Queenie Turrill in Lark Rise to Candleford, Doll in the film Cass. Most recently she played Grandma in the BBC Two comedy Grandma's House. Since 2015, she has portrayed Nurse Phyllis Crane on the BBC One drama series Call the Midwife.

Personal life

Bassett lives in Kent, in a village close to her birthplace.

Filmography

YearFilm / TVRoleNotes
1987Waiting for the MoonGertrude Stein
1988DramaramaMeg CrawfordTV series
1988Paris by NightJanet Swanton
1989TraffikRachel LithgowTV series
1989BoonMrs. SheridanTV series
1990Screen OneVirginia LyddonTV series
1990The BillShena JacksonTV series
1991A Small DanceSandra Matkin
19914 PlayPhyllis TwiggTV series
1991Let Him Have ItMrs. Miles
1994Love HurtsJaniceTV series
1994A Touch of FrostMrs. CornishTV series
1994Screen TwoMrs. Loveless/SusanTV series
1994Frank StubbsEileenTV series
1995A Village AffairGwenTV film
1995The BillChrissie BatesTV series
1995BramwellMaudTV mini-series
1995Loved UpMotherTV film
1995The Peter PrincipleIris JenningsTV series
1995HauntedMadam Brontski
1995EastEndersBridget GilsenanTV series
1996Mary ReillyMary's MotherFilm
1996CasualtyOlwyn HumphriesTV series
1996No BananasEllen SlaterTV mini-series
1996Indian SummerDoctorFilm
1997Kavanagh QCMiss Haddon QCTV series
1997Oscar and LucindaBetty Stratton
1998Spoonface SteinbergMrs. SpudTV film
1998The Life and Crimes of William PalmerMary ThorntonTV film
1998Our Mutual FriendAbby PottersonTV mini-series
1998Far from the Madding CrowdMaryann MoneyTV film
1998Out of HoursCarol-Ann KumarTV mini-series
1999East is EastElla KhanNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
1999Beautiful PeopleSisterFilm
1999dinnerladiesPeggyTV series
2000Lounge ActVoiceShort
2000Don QuixoteHousekeeperTV film
2000Losing ItTom's MotherTV film
2001The MartinsAnthea
2002The Last TimeEvelynShort
2002The HoursNelly Boxall
2003This Little LifeNurse NinaTV film
2003Calendar GirlsCoraFilm
2004SpivsAuntie Vee
2004The BriefMaureen TylerTV series
2005Separate LiesMaggie
2005Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish StoryTrolley Lady
2005Kinky BootsMelanieFilm
2005HeartbeatBeryl PalmerTV series
2005The English HaremMonica PringleTV film
2007Midsomer MurdersEileen CarnackTV series
2008Sense and SensibilityMrs. JenningsTV mini-series
2008CassDollFilm
2008The ReaderMs. Brenner
2008Lark Rise to CandlefordQueenie TurrillTV series
2010West Is WestElla Khan
2010Grandma's HouseGrandmaTV series
2012Nick NicklebyMrs. SmikeTV series
2013Spies of WarsawMalka RosenBBC miniseries
2015–2017TwirlywoosNarratorchildren's TV show
2015–Call the MidwifeNurse Phyllis CraneTV series
2017CarnageDr Yasmine VondenburgMockumentary
2022StrikeJoan NancarrowTV series
2023The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold FryQueenie Hennessy

Theatre

Among her most notable stage roles were those in:In Basildon – Royal Court Theatre London Love and Information – Royal Court Theatre London People – National Theatre London Roots – Donmar Warehouse London Visitors – Arcola Theatre London and Bush Theatre, London