Linda Bassett
Though born in Pluckley, a small village in Kent, England, Linda Bassett moved early on to the Pimlico region of London. It was there the youngster developed a passion for drama, as she and her family often watched classic plays at the Old Vic Theatre (where Bassett eventually found work as an usher). Her passion for acting blossomed during her Old Vic tenure, and after one year at Leeds University (as an English student), Bassett dropped out of school to work with a community drama group. These years working in small, local productions were vastly important for the budding actress, who had never received "proper" training. In 1982, at age 32, Bassett finally broke through on Broadway, and she spent the rest of that decade building a solid stage and screen reputation. Transitioning to film came easily--her first big-screen role was a starring spot in the 1987 drama "Waiting for the Moon." Her work throughout the '90s, however, was typically of the TV variety, including one-off and multi-episode stints on popular programs like police procedural "The Bill" and detective drama "A Touch of Frost." Though well-respected by both her peers and critics, Bassett was never a household name during this period--but in 1999, she delivered her break-out film performance, earning a Best Actress BAFTA nomination for her role as Ella Khan. Throughout the '00s, Bassett continued to find quality character work in films like the 2008 drama "The Reader" and shows like the BBC sitcom "Grandma's House."
Photos
Linda Bassett
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
73% |
|
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry | Queenie (Character) | - | 2023 |
44% |
|
Effie Gray | Anna (Character) | - | 2014 |
63% |
|
West Is West | Ella Khan (Character) | - | 2010 |
58% |
|
Kinky Boots | Melanie (Character) | $1.8M | 2005 |
72% |
|
Separate Lies | Maggie (Character) | $923.3K | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The English Harem | Monica Pringle (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Spivs | Auntie Vee (Character) | - | 2004 |
73% |
|
Calendar Girls | Cora (Character) | $31.0M | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Entering Blue Zone | Nurse Nina (Character) | - | 2003 |
80% |
|
The Hours | Nelly (Character) | $41.6M | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Martins | Anthea (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Don Quixote | The Housekeeper (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Don Quijote | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
80% |
|
Beautiful People | Nurse (Character) | $261.4K | 1999 |
79% |
|
East Is East | Ella (Character) | $4.2M | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Life & Crimes of William Palmer | Mary Thornton (Character) | - | 1998 |
67% |
|
Oscar and Lucinda | Betty Stratton (Character) | $1.6M | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Loved Up | Mother (Character) | - | 1996 |
26% |
|
Mary Reilly | Mary's Mother (Character) | $5.5M | 1996 |
86% |
|
Alive and Kicking | Doctor (Character) | $294.5K | 1996 |
80% |
|
Haunted | Madame Brontski (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Small Dance | Sandra Matkin (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Traffik | Unknown (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Paris by Night | Janet Swanton (Character) | - | 1988 |
44% |
|
Waiting for the Moon | Gertrude Stein (Character) | - | 1987 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
83% | 94% | C.B. Strike | Joan Nancarrow (Character) | 2022 2024 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Call the Midwife | Nurse Phyllis (Character) | 2015-2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Twirlywoos | Narrator | 2015-2017 |
71% | No Score Yet | Spies of Warsaw | Unknown (Character) | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Grandma's House | Grandma (Character) | 2010 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lark Rise to Candleford | Queenie Turrill (Character) | 2008-2011 |
No Score Yet | 80% | Sense and Sensibility | Mrs Jennings (Character) | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Heartbeat | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Brief | Maureen Tyler (Character) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Masterpiece Theatre | Unknown (Character) | 1998-1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love on the Rocks | Unknown (Character) | 1994 |