Phyllida Law, Stage and Screen Actress, Dies at 94

Phyllida Law, the Scottish actor celebrated for her subtle performances across theatre, television, and film, has died at the age of 94. Known widely as the mother of Emma and Sophie Thompson, Law was herself a distinguished performer, designer, and author. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school, initially as a designer, before focusing on acting. Her career began in the 1950s with seasons at the Old Vic and Bristol Old Vic, where she took on roles in plays by Shakespeare, John Osborne, and Arthur Miller. In 1957 she married actor Eric Thompson, the narrator of The Magic Roundabout, who died in 1982. Law appeared in numerous television series, including The Barchester Chronicles (1982) alongside Alan Rickman, and later in Kingdom with Stephen Fry and Foyle's War with Michael Kitchen. Her film credits included Nanny McPhee (2005) with Emma Thompson and Much Ado About Nothing (1993) with Kenneth Branagh. A notable stage triumph was The Winter Guest (1995), directed by Rickman, and her definitive Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Chichester in 1990. Law also wrote three books, including Notes to My Mother-in-Law (2009). She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow in 2013 and appointed OBE in 2014. She is survived by her daughters Emma and Sophie and four grandchildren.