Elizabeth Spender
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Elizabeth Spender (born 1950) is a film and television actress known for her role in Brazil.
Early life and education
Spender is the daughter of concert pianist Natasha Spender (née Litvin) and the poet, novelist and essayist Stephen Spender. She studied drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Drama Centre London. She also attended an Arvon Foundation television play-writing course which was taught by Jack Rosenthal.
Career
Among numerous television and film credits, she appeared in Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult film Brazil.
She has written two BBC TV dramas: Hedgehog Wedding (1987) produced by Innes Lloyd, and These Foolish Things (1989) which starred Lindsay Duncan. In the 1990s she wrote a series of Pastability cookbooks. In 2005 she published a memoir of her childhood, The Wild Horse Diaries (ISBN 9780733619755).
Personal life
From 1990 until his death in 2023, she was married to the Australian actor and satirist Barry Humphries. They had met at a Groucho Club party in 1988.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Priest of Love | Elsa Weekley | |
| 1985 | Brazil | Alison / 'Barbara' Lint | |
| 1987 | The Felons | Florence | |
| 1996 | The Leading Man | Anne |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Frankenstein: The True Story | Ballroom Guest | Television film |
| 1979 | Feet First | Fay Faith | Episode #1.3 |
| 1979 | Premiere | Trudi | Episode: "Over There" |
| 1979 | Testament of Youth | Christina | Episode: "1918" |
| 1980 | The Professionals | Helen Tippett | Episode: "Blood Sports" |
| 1980 | BBC2 Playhouse | Constance | Episode: "The Happy Autumn Fields" |
| 1981 | Something in Disguise | Annabel | Episode: "A New Life" |
| 1982 | Nancy Astor | Henrietta | Episode: "Scandals" |
| 1984 | Oxbridge Blues | Girl at party | Episode: "The Muse" |
| 1984 | The Secret Servant | Melinda Fay | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Talk to Me | Kate | Television film |
| 1986 | ScreenPlay | Magdalena Hofdemel | Episode: "The Mozart Inquest" |
| 1988 | Sherlock Holmes | Laura Lyons | Episode: "The Hound of the Baskervilles" |
| 1991 | Selling Hitler | Valkyrie / Marlene | 4 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | Fast Tracks | Judy Brumfield | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Barry Humphries: A Tribute | —N/a | Television special |
External links
- at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
- at IMDb