Phyllida Law

Biography

Phyllida Law was a Scottish actress who worked in television, film and theater, born in Glasgow and educated at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which she entered after an audition, having first thought of training as a stage designer. On television she appeared in Dixon of Dock Green and Rumpole of the Bailey, and later in Kingdom and Foyle's War, and in 1986 she was Jacqueline in the London Palladium staging of La Cage aux Folles. Her films included Peter's Friends (1992) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and later The Winter Guest (1997). She played a guest role in The Sarah Jane Adventures and appeared with John Hurt in the short film Love at First Sight, shortlisted for an Oscar in 2012. She published a memoir, Notes to my Mother-In-Law, in 2009, and in 2014 was appointed an OBE for services to drama and charity.

94years old at death

Born May 8, 1932Glasgow
Died July 27, 2026
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Phyllida Ann Law (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 26
Career span: 51 years1969 to 2020

Genres

Drama69%, 18 films
Comedy31%, 8 films
Romance31%, 8 films
Adventure19%, 5 films
Family19%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
Law trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School after auditioning intending to become a stage designer, and found by what she called a happy mistake that she wanted to act.

Phyllida Law movies on Netflix

Then Came You2020IMDb rating 6.0as Arlene
Albert Nobbs2011IMDb rating 6.7as Mrs. Cavendish
The Secret World of Arrietty2010IMDb rating 7.6as Sadako (voice)
Ways to Live Forever2010IMDb rating 6.9as Grandmother
Miss Austen Regrets2008IMDb rating 7.0as Mrs. Austen
The Waiting Room2007IMDb rating 6.5as Helen
Copying Beethoven2006IMDb rating 6.7as Mother Canisius
Day of Wrath2006IMDb rating 5.4as Esperanza de Mendoza
Miss Potter2006IMDb rating 7.0as Mrs. Warne
A Little Trip to Heaven2005IMDb rating 5.9as Head Mistress
Mee-Shee: The Water Giant2005IMDb rating 5.3as Mrs. Coogan
Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6as Mrs. Partridge (voice)
Unleashed2005IMDb rating 7.0as Distinguished Lady
I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5as Mrs. Williams
The Time Machine2002IMDb rating 6.0as Mrs. Watchit
Saving Grace2000IMDb rating 6.9as Margaret
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns1999IMDb rating 7.0as Lady Margaret
Judas Kiss1998IMDb rating 6.1as Shouting Woman
Anna Karenina1997IMDb rating 6.3as Vronskaya
The Winter Guest1997IMDb rating 6.8as Elspeth
Emma1996IMDb rating 6.6as Mrs Bates
Before the Rain1994IMDb rating 7.8as Anne's Mother
Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3as Ursula
Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0as Vera
Hitler: The Last Ten Days1973IMDb rating 6.5as Fraulein Manzialy
Otley1969IMDb rating 6.1as Jean

Best known for

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

Top

The Time Machine2002 Action, Adventure, Sci-Fias Mrs. Watchit
IMDb rating 6.0137K votes
Unleashed2005 Action, Crime, Dramaas Distinguished Lady
IMDb rating 7.0113K votes
Copying Beethoven2006as Mother Canisius
IMDb rating 6.715K votes
Before the Rain1994as Anne's Mother
IMDb rating 7.817K votes
The Winter Guest1997as Elspeth
IMDb rating 6.84.0K votes
Miss Potter2006as Mrs. Warne
IMDb rating 7.034K votes
Much Ado About Nothing1993as Ursula
IMDb rating 7.356K votes
Peter's Friends1992as Vera
IMDb rating 7.013K votes

Most often with

Kenneth Branagh directed two of these films, John Henderson two. Emma Thompson appears in five 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

Emma Thompson

Imelda Staunton

Greta Scacchi

Craig Ferguson

Ewan McGregor

Joss Ackland

Kenneth BranaghDirector, 2 films John HendersonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Emma Thompson5 films together, 1992 to 2005
Emma Thompson's page
- Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6Law as Mrs. PartridgevoiceThompson as Nanny McPhee
- Judas Kiss1998IMDb rating 6.1Law as Shouting WomanThompson as FBI Agent Sadie Hawkins
- The Winter Guest1997IMDb rating 6.8Law as ElspethThompson as Frances
- Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3Law as UrsulaThompson as Beatrice
- Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0Law as VeraThompson as Maggie Chester
Imelda Staunton4 films together, 1992 to 2005
Imelda Staunton's page
- Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6Law as Mrs. PartridgevoiceStaunton as Mrs. Blatherwick
- I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5Law as Mrs. WilliamsStaunton as Dr. Bridget
- Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3Law as UrsulaStaunton as Margaret
- Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0Law as VeraStaunton as Mary Charleston
Greta Scacchi3 films together, 1996 to 2010
Greta Scacchi's page
- Ways to Live Forever2010IMDb rating 6.9Law as GrandmotherScacchi as Mrs. Willis
- Miss Austen Regrets2008IMDb rating 7.0Law as Mrs. AustenScacchi as Cassandra Austen
- Emma1996IMDb rating 6.6Law as Mrs BatesScacchi as Mrs Weston
Craig Ferguson3 films together, 2000 to 2020
Craig Ferguson's page
- Then Came You2020IMDb rating 6.0Law as ArleneFerguson as Howard
- I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5Law as Mrs. WilliamsFerguson as Paul Kerr
- Saving Grace2000IMDb rating 6.9Law as MargaretFerguson as Matthew
Ewan McGregor2 films together, 1996 to 2006
Ewan McGregor's page
- Miss Potter2006IMDb rating 7.0Law as Mrs. WarneMcGregor as Norman Warne
- Emma1996IMDb rating 6.6Law as Mrs BatesMcGregor as Frank Churchill
Joss Ackland2 films together, 1973 to 2003
Joss Ackland's page
- I'll Be There2003IMDb rating 6.5Law as Mrs. WilliamsAckland as Evil Edmonds
- Hitler: The Last Ten Days1973IMDb rating 6.5Law as Fraulein ManzialyAckland as General Burgdorf
Kenneth BranaghDirector, 2 films, 1992 to 1993
All films by Kenneth Branagh
- Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3Law as Ursula
- Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0Law as Vera
John HendersonDirector, 2 films, 1999 to 2005
All films by John Henderson
- Mee-Shee: The Water Giant2005IMDb rating 5.3Law as Mrs. Coogan
- The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns1999IMDb rating 7.0Law as Lady Margaret
Also two films together7 more actors
- Kenneth BranaghMuch Ado About Nothing (1993) and Peter's Friends (1992)
- Alan RickmanJudas Kiss (1998) and The Winter Guest (1997)
- Frank FinlayThe Waiting Room (2007) and The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)
- Brian BlessedDay of Wrath (2006) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
- Richard BriersMuch Ado About Nothing (1993) and Peter's Friends (1992)
- Matyelok GibbsCopying Beethoven (2006) and Miss Potter (2006)
- Alex LoweMuch Ado About Nothing (1993) and Peter's Friends (1992)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.