Billie Whitelaw

Billie Whitelaw has died aged 82

Whitelaw, who was made a CBE in the 1991 Birthday Honours list, was perhaps best known for her role as Mrs Baylock, the demonic nanny, in the 1976 film 'The Omen' and as Violet Kray, the mother of the Kray twins in the 1990 film 'The Krays'.

The actress was also known for working closely with Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, whom she met in the early 1960s, and starred in plays such as 'Happy Days', 'Not I', 'Footfalls' and 'Rockaby'. Their professional relationship continued until Beckett's death in 1989.

Notable stage credits also included 'Othello' at the Chichester Festival in 1964 in the role of Desdemona, playing alongside Laurence Olivier.

Having made her stage debut in 1950 at the Prince's Theatre in Bradford in 'Pink String and Sealing Wax', Whitelaw went on to work in rep before moving into television, including regular appearances in BBC's 'Dixon of Dock Green'. Many film roles also followed, including in the already mentioned 'The Omen' and 'The Krays', as well as 'Maurice', 'Jane Eyre' and 'Hot Fuzz'.


Originally published on

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