Penelope Keith, the actor best known for her iconic comic roles as Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born, has died at the age of 86. Her career spanned over six decades, earning her two Bafta awards and a damehood.
Early life and career beginnings
Born Penelope Anne Constance Hatfield in Sutton, Surrey, on 2 April 1940, she later adopted her stepfather's surname, Keith. She began her acting career in repertory theatre and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963. Her first television appearance was in the army conscripts comedy The Army Game in 1961.
Breakthrough with The Good Life
Keith rose to fame playing snobbish social climber Margo Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom The Good Life, which ran from 1975 to 1978. Her performance earned her the Bafta for best light entertainment performance. The show also starred Felicity Kendal, Richard Briers, and Paul Eddington.
Second Bafta and To the Manor Born
In 1977, Keith won her second Bafta, this time for best actress, for her role in the television miniseries The Norman Conquests alongside Tom Conti. She then starred as aristocratic Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born (1979–1981), opposite Peter Bowles. The series was revived for one series in 2007.
Later work and honours
Keith continued acting in television, theatre, and film, including roles in Executive Stress (1986–88), No Job for a Lady (1990–92), and Coming Home (1998). On stage, she appeared in productions such as Blithe Spirit (2004) and The Importance of Being Earnest (2008). In 2014, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the arts and to charity.
Personal life
Keith married Detective Constable Rodney Timpson in 1978. The couple's honeymoon to New York was delayed due to snow-related flight cancellations. She is survived by her husband.
According to her family, Keith died peacefully at home. Tributes have poured in from colleagues and fans, celebrating her as a British great.
