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Born in Surrey, the actress began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963. Her talent was soon recognized when she secured an Olivier Award in 1976 for best comedy performance for her role in the play *Donkey’s Years*. This early success marked the beginning of a distinguished career in both theatre and television.
She gained widespread recognition and became a household name portraying Margo in *The Good Life* starting in 1975. Her performance earned her the BAFTA TV award for best light entertainment performance in 1977. Following this, she took on the role of Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, a widowed aristocrat, in *To the Manor Born*, which debuted in 1979. Her versatility as an actress was further acknowledged with another BAFTA TV award, this time for best actress, for her work in *The Norman Conquests* and *Saving It For Albie*.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she continued to appear in various sitcoms, including *Executive Stress*, *No Job for a Lady*, and *Next of Kin*. After the death of Laurence Olivier in 1989, she succeeded him as president of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund, demonstrating her commitment to supporting fellow actors.
In the 2000s, she returned to the stage with notable roles such as Madame Arcati in a 2004 production of *Blithe Spirit* and Lady Bracknell in the 2007 staging of *The Importance of Being Earnest*. Her contributions to the arts and charity were formally recognized in 2014 when she was made a dame. Following her passing, former culture secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt paid tribute to her on social media, describing her as a beloved neighbor and friend, and praised her ability to bring joy and laughter to millions
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