
Lynda Bellingham
Known for Acting · 60 credits
- Born
- 1948-05-31
- Died
- 2014-10-19
- Place of birth
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Biography
Lynda Bellingham played many roles during her five-decade professional career, but became synonymous with one. "Being a mum making gravy was not quite how I had seen my career advancing," she said once. But between 1983 and 1999 that's what she did in 42 "episodes" of an award-winning TV ad. Since the early 1980s, her name was rarely mentioned in print without it being prefaced with "Oxo mum".
During her career, though, she starred on TV as the vet's wife Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small in the 80s and as one of two divorcees trying to forge a relationship in the 90s sitcom Second Thoughts, opposite James Bolam. On stage she was best known for playing the lead in a touring production of Calendar Girls between 2008 and 2012. She was also, for four years between 2007 and 2011, a regular member of the team on Loose Women, the daytime TV chat show. She had few regrets about how her career turned out, summarising its trajectory thus on her website: "Arrived in London at the Central School [for Speech and Drama] in 1966 and never looked back. I had a ball!"
Bellingham, though, knew that gravy, like Lady Macbeth's damned spot, left an indelible mark. "In many ways I was very proud of what we did, but there is no doubt that my credibility as an actress was knocked," she reflected. "Certain people in the industry would never employ me as a serious actress after it. On the other hand, it gave me the financial security to go off and work in the theatre for very little money." Her performances as Mrs Oxo were reportedly responsible for a 10% increase in stock cube sales.
Known For
TV Shows (40)

Midsomer Murders
1997
as Jane Willows

Doctor Who
1963
as The Inquisitor

Casualty
1986
as Steph Yates

Wogan
1982
as Self

Waking the Dead
2001
as Mary Mantel

Z-Cars
1962

Loose Women
1999
as Self

The Professionals
1977
as Betty Hope

New Tricks
2004

Screen Two
1985
as Mary Morris

An Audience with...
1978
as Self

The Sweeney
1975
as Nancy King

All Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Helen Herriot
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
2007
as Self

ITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969
as Nurse Mary Tiller

Robin Hood
2006

Blake's 7
1978
as Vena

Angels
1975

Shoestring
1979
as Nicola

Surprise, Surprise
1984
as Self

Murder in Suburbia
2004
as Milly Goodman

The Last Detective
2003

At Home with the Braithwaites
2000
as Pauline Farnell

Filthy Rich & Catflap
1987
as Ms Tomkins
One Life
2003

This Morning
1988
as Self
Junior Masterchef
1994

Faith in the Future
1995

Martin Chuzzlewit
1994
as Mrs Lupin

The Misfit
1970
as Wee Jeannie

All Star Mr & Mrs
2008
Gibberish
1992

Second Thoughts
1991
as Faith

Mackenzie
1980
as Ruth Isaacs

Bonkers
2007
Odd One In
2010

Yus, My Dear
1976
as Carol
Mister Eleven
2009
as Shirley
Tell Tarby
1973
as Nurse Norma Snockers
The Pink Medicine Show
1978
Movies (20)

Celebrity Naked Ambition
2003
as Self (archive footage)

Sweeney!
1977
as Janice Wyatt

Confessions of a Driving Instructor
1976
as Mary Truscott

Don't Go Breaking My Heart
1999
as Maxine

Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh
1998

The Vision
1987
as Mary Morris

Doctor Who: Mindwarp
1986
as The Inquisitor

The Romanovs: A Crowned Family
2000
as Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna

Bodywork
2001
as Poppy Fields

Devil's Gate
2004
as Marlene

The Scarlet Tunic
1998
as Emily Marlowe

Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids
1986
as The Inquisitor

Doctor Who: The Mysterious Planet
1986
as The Inquisitor
The Waterloo Bridge Handicap
1978
as Likely Lady (Miss Beamish)

Riding High
1981
as Miss Mott

The Long Bank Holiday
2004
as Councillor Marjorie Balsam

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
1977
as Valerie

An Audience with Ronnie Corbett
1997

Doctor Who: The Ultimate Foe
1986
as The Inquisitor
Too Close for Comfort
2012
as Mum
About Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham played many roles during her five-decade professional career, but became synonymous with one. "Being a mum making gravy was not quite how I had seen my career advancing," she said once. But between 1983 and 1999 that's what she did in 42 "episodes" of an award-winning TV ad. Since the early 1980s, her name was rarely mentioned in print without it being prefaced with "Oxo mum". During her career, though, she starred on TV as the vet's wife Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small in the 80s and as one of two divorcees try… With 60 credits spanning from 1962 to 2012, Lynda Bellingham has appeared in 20 films and 40 TV shows.
Fans searching for Lynda Bellingham movies, Lynda Bellingham filmography, or the latest projects starring Lynda Bellingham can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Lynda Bellingham Movies
- Celebrity Naked Ambition (2003) — as Self (archive footage)
- Sweeney! (1977) — as Janice Wyatt
- Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) — as Mary Truscott
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart (1999) — as Maxine
- Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (1998)
Where to Watch Lynda Bellingham Films
Most Lynda Bellingham movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Lynda Bellingham, check our movies catalogue and browse page.