Portrait of Elspet Gray

Elspet Gray

Acting

Biography

Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix (née Gray; 12 April 1929 – 18 February 2013) was a Scottish actress, who first became known for her partnership with her husband, Brian Rix, and later was cast in many television roles in the 1970s and 1980s. She played Lady Collingford in the television series Catweazle and Mrs. Palmer in the television series Solo, alongside Felicity Kendal. Gray had a long stage career, particularly known for her appearances in the Whitehall farces, the company being managed by her husband Brian Rix, which were originally performed at the Whitehall Theatre and later at the Garrick. Gray married Brian Rix in 1949. The couple had four children - two sons and two daughters. Their eldest child, daughter Shelley (born 1951) had Down syndrome. The experience of caring for her led the couple to become active campaigners for the disabled. Rix later became Mencap chairman and president. He became a life peer in 1992. This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.

Born: February 18, 1929

Place of Birth: Inverness, Inverness Shire, Scotland, UK

Filmography

2009
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened

as Self / Mrs Abbott

2008
The Ties That Bind Us

as Thalia (archive footage)

1998
dinnerladies

as Hilary

1997
The Wingless Bird

as Grace Farrier

1994
Four Weddings and a Funeral

as Laura's Mother - Wedding One

1993
Doctor Finlay

as Mrs. Finlay

1988
The Girl in a Swing

as Mrs. Dresland

1987
Inspector Morse

as Mrs Bartlett

1986
Casualty

as Mary Porter

1983
Blackadder

as The Queen

1983
Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity

as Chancellor Thalia

1981
Tenko

as Phyllis Bristow

1981
1975
Fawlty Towers

as Mrs. Abbott

1970
Catweazle

as Lady Collingford

1969
Goodbye, Mr. Chips

as Lady Sutterwick (uncredited)

1963
Doctor Who

as Chancellor Thalia

1960
The Night We Got the Bird

as Woman with Dog

1954
Devil's Point

as June Mallard

1954
Johnny-on-the-Spot

as Joan Ingram

1950
1949
Trottie True

as Honor Bellaire (uncredited)

1948
Love in Waiting

as Brenda Lawrence

1948
Fly Away Peter

as Phyllis Hapgood

1948
The Blind Goddess

as Daphne Dearing