Billie Whitelaw

Biography

Billie Whitelaw was an English actress who began performing on radio as a child while still at school in Bradford, later acted with repertory companies in Dewsbury, New Brighton and Oxford, and made her London stage debut in 1950. Her first screen role came in The Sleeping Tiger (1954), and she worked steadily in British cinema through the 1950s and early 1960s, winning BAFTAs for her supporting performances in Charlie Bubbles (1968) and Twisted Nerve (1968). She gained international acclaim as Mrs Baylock, the demonic nanny in The Omen (1976), and her later films included The Dark Crystal (1982), Maurice (1987), The Krays (1990), Jane Eyre (1996), Quills (2000) and Hot Fuzz (2007). She was also the foremost interpreter of Samuel Beckett's plays, collaborating with him for 25 years, and won two television BAFTAs.

82years old at death

Born June 6, 1932Coventry
Died December 21, 2014Northwood
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Also credited as Billie Honor Whitelaw

Movie Career

Films: 23
Career span: 53 years1954 to 2007

Genres

Drama65%, 15 films
Thriller30%, 7 films
Comedy22%, 5 films
Crime17%, 4 films
Family13%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Whitelaw was 16 when she met Joan Littlewood, the director, at the BBC in Manchester. Littlewood asked her to join her Theatre Workshop troupe.
First role
Whitelaw started as a child actress on radio at age 11. Her roles included Bunkle, a prep-schoolboy who was extrovert, on Children's Hour from Manchester.

Billie Whitelaw movies on Netflix

Hot Fuzz2007IMDb rating 7.8as Joyce Cooper
Quills2000IMDb rating 7.2as Madame LeClerc
Jane Eyre1996IMDb rating 6.8as Grace Poole
Freddie As F.R.O.7.1992IMDb rating 5.1as Messina (voice)
The Krays1990IMDb rating 6.6as Violet Kray
The Fifteen Streets1989IMDb rating 6.9as Beatrice Llewellyn
Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6as Mrs. Hall
The Secret Garden1987IMDb rating 7.1as Mrs. Medlock
The Dark Crystal1982IMDb rating 7.1as Aughra (voice)
The Omen1976IMDb rating 7.5as Mrs. Baylock
Night Watch1973IMDb rating 6.3as Sarah Cooke
Frenzy1972IMDb rating 7.4as Hetty Porter
Gumshoe1971IMDb rating 6.4as Ellen
Leo the Last1970IMDb rating 5.8as Margaret
Start the Revolution Without Me1970IMDb rating 6.4as Queen Marie Antoinette
Charlie Bubbles1968IMDb rating 6.3as Lottie
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1968IMDb rating 6.8as Gwyn Thomas
Twisted Nerve1968IMDb rating 7.0as Joan Harper
The Devil's Agent1962IMDb rating 5.8as Piroska Maslov
Hell Is a City1960IMDb rating 7.0as Chloe Hawkins
The Flesh and the Fiends1960IMDb rating 6.9as Mary Patterson
Carve Her Name with Pride1958IMDb rating 7.2as Winnie
The Sleeping Tiger1954IMDb rating 6.5as Receptionist at Pearce & Mann

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Omen1976 Fantasy, Horror, Mysteryas Mrs. Baylock
IMDb rating 7.5148K votes
Hot Fuzz2007 Action, Comedyas Joyce Cooper
IMDb rating 7.8573K votes
Quills2000as Madame LeClerc
IMDb rating 7.259K votes
Frenzy1972as Hetty Porter
IMDb rating 7.454K votes
Maurice1987as Mrs. Hall
IMDb rating 7.628K votes
The Dark Crystal1982as Aughravoice
IMDb rating 7.178K votes
The Krays1990as Violet Kray
IMDb rating 6.69.8K votes
Jane Eyre1996as Grace Poole
IMDb rating 6.811K votes

Most often with

Barry Foster appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Barry Foster

Ben Kingsley

Donald Pleasence

Michael Hordern

Denholm Elliott

Albert Finney

Films together

Barry Foster3 films together, 1968 to 1987
Barry Foster's page
- Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6Whitelaw as Mrs. HallFoster as Dean Cornwallis
- Frenzy1972IMDb rating 7.4Whitelaw as Hetty PorterFoster as Robert Rusk
- Twisted Nerve1968IMDb rating 7.0Whitelaw as Joan HarperFoster as Gerry Henderson
Ben Kingsley2 films together, 1987 to 1992
Ben Kingsley's page
- Freddie As F.R.O.7.1992IMDb rating 5.1Whitelaw as MessinavoiceKingsley as Freddievoice
- Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6Whitelaw as Mrs. HallKingsley as Lasker-Jones
Donald Pleasence2 films together, 1960
Donald Pleasence's page
- Hell Is a City1960IMDb rating 7.0Whitelaw as Chloe HawkinsPleasence as Gus Hawkins
- The Flesh and the Fiends1960IMDb rating 6.9Whitelaw as Mary PattersonPleasence as William Hare
Michael Hordern2 films together, 1987 to 1992
Michael Hordern's page
- Freddie As F.R.O.7.1992IMDb rating 5.1Whitelaw as MessinavoiceHordern as Kingvoice
- The Secret Garden1987IMDb rating 7.1Whitelaw as Mrs. MedlockHordern as Ben Weatherstaff
Denholm Elliott2 films together, 1968 to 1987
Denholm Elliott's page
- Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6Whitelaw as Mrs. HallElliott as Doctor Barry
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1968IMDb rating 6.8Whitelaw as Gwyn ThomasElliott as George Devlin
Albert Finney2 films together, 1968 to 1971
Albert Finney's page
- Gumshoe1971IMDb rating 6.4Whitelaw as EllenFinney as Eddie Ginley
- Charlie Bubbles1968IMDb rating 6.3Whitelaw as LottieFinney as Charlie
Also two films together10 more actors
- Frank FinlayGumshoe (1971) and Twisted Nerve (1968)
- Hugh GriffithStart the Revolution Without Me (1970) and The Sleeping Tiger (1954)
- Esma CannonThe Flesh and the Fiends (1960) and The Sleeping Tiger (1954)
- George InnesGumshoe (1971) and Charlie Bubbles (1968)
- Edward Tudor-PoleQuills (2000) and The Secret Garden (1987)
- Victor SpinettiThe Krays (1990) and Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
- Maxine AudleyHell Is a City (1960) and The Sleeping Tiger (1954)
- George A. CooperStart the Revolution Without Me (1970) and Hell Is a City (1960)
- Michael JennQuills (2000) and Maurice (1987)
- Bill DeanNight Watch (1973) and Gumshoe (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.