You know her as the woman who had to endure Victor Meldrew’s endless "I don't believe it!" outbursts. Honestly, for a whole generation, Annette Crosbie is Margaret Meldrew—the saintly, long-suffering backbone of One Foot in the Grave. But if you only know her as the lady dealing with a frozen cat in the freezer or a garden full of gnomes, you’re missing out on one of the most versatile careers in British acting history.
Crosbie didn’t just stumble into sitcom fame. She was a powerhouse of the stage and serious drama long before she ever set foot in that suburban semi-detached house. Born in Gorebridge, Scotland, in 1934, she fought her own parents’ disapproval to get into the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. That grit shows in every role she takes. She’s won two BAFTAs—and neither was for comedy.
The Royal Breakthrough: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Most actors wait a lifetime for a "big break." For Crosbie, it came in 1970 with the BBC’s The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She played Catherine of Aragon.
It was a revelation. Instead of the stereotypical dark-haired, olive-skinned Spaniard we usually see in historical dramas, Crosbie played her as she actually was: fair-haired and intensely dignified. She captured that tragic transition from a beloved young queen to a discarded wife with such raw, quiet power that she walked away with the 1971 BAFTA for Best Actress.
Think about the range required there. You’re playing against Keith Michell’s towering Henry, yet you have to hold the screen with nothing but a look of betrayed nobility. It’s heavy stuff.
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Annette Crosbie Movies and TV Shows: The Period Drama Queen
If you look at the timeline of Annette Crosbie movies and tv shows, the mid-70s were basically her coronation period. In 1975, she took on the role of Queen Victoria in Edward the Seventh.
Playing Victoria is a rite of passage for British actresses, but Crosbie’s version is often cited by historians and "frock flick" nerds as one of the best. Why? Because she didn’t just play the "mourning widow" trope. She gave the character a pulse. She won her second Best Actress BAFTA for it in 1976.
Then came The Slipper and the Rose (1976). This is a cult favorite for anyone who loves a good musical. She played the Fairy Godmother, and she was hilarious. She played it with a "no-nonsense" Scottish sensible-ness that made the magic feel somehow grounded. She even sang "Suddenly It Happens," proving she had the pipes to match the acting chops.
Voices and Villains
- The Lord of the Rings (1978): Before Cate Blanchett took the ring, Crosbie was the voice of Galadriel in Ralph Bakshi’s animated version. It’s a haunting, ethereal performance that often gets overlooked.
- Hawk the Slayer (1980): Total 180 here. She played an Abbess in this low-budget fantasy flick. It’s cheesy, sure, but she brings a level of gravitas that the movie probably didn't deserve.
- Paradise Postponed (1986): She played Dorothy Simcox, showing she could handle complex, multi-generational family dramas with ease.
The Margaret Meldrew Era
We have to talk about One Foot in the Grave (1990-2000). David Renwick’s writing was brilliant, but the show worked because of the chemistry between Crosbie and Richard Wilson.
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Margaret wasn't just a foil for Victor. She was the emotional core. While Victor fought the world, Margaret fought to keep their dignity intact. There’s a specific kind of "respectable anxiety" Crosbie perfected—the way she’d apologize to neighbors while Victor was screaming at a lamppost.
The finale of that show is still one of the most gut-wrenching things ever aired on the BBC. Seeing Margaret deal with the hit-and-run death of Victor showed that even in a sitcom, Crosbie was a dramatic actress first. That final scene in the kitchen with the paracetamol? Chilling. Sorta makes you realize how much she was holding back the entire series.
Later Career: From Calendar Girls to Doctor Who
Even as she got older, Crosbie didn't slow down. She just moved into "national treasure" territory.
In Calendar Girls (2003), she played Jessie. She was part of that powerhouse ensemble with Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. She brought a dry, biting wit to the role of the retired teacher. It’s a movie about friendship and aging, and Crosbie’s performance feels incredibly lived-in.
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Then there’s the "new" stuff. She popped up in Doctor Who in 2010 (Matt Smith’s first episode, "The Eleventh Hour") as Mrs. Angelo. She also did a stint in Call the Midwife in 2019, playing Clarice Millgrove, a woman struggling with hoarding and the trauma of the suffragette movement. It was a one-episode guest spot, but it broke everyone’s heart.
A Career Built on Subtle Strength
Annette Crosbie’s filmography is a bit of a roadmap of British culture. She’s done the gritty thrillers like The Debt Collector (1999) and the big-budget Hollywood musicals like Into the Woods (2014), where she played Granny.
She’s never been the type of actor who demands the spotlight through shouting. She wins it through silence. Whether she’s a Tudor queen or a woman clearing litter from the roadside in a sitcom, there’s a consistent thread of "don't mess with me" energy.
Beyond the screen, she’s a massive advocate for animal welfare, specifically greyhounds. She served as the president of the League Against Cruel Sports. It’s that same Scottish steel she brings to her roles—fiercely protective and utterly unsentimental.
Where to start your rewatch
- The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Watch episode one. It’s stagey, it’s 70s, but Crosbie is electric.
- One Foot in the Grave (The later series): Look for the episodes where Margaret finally snaps. It’s masterclass acting.
- The Slipper and the Rose: If you want something light and whimsical.
- Call the Midwife (Season 8, Episode 2): Keep the tissues handy for this one.
Annette Crosbie is proof that "character actress" isn't a secondary title. It's a badge of honor for someone who can inhabit a queen's throne and a suburban kitchen with the exact same level of conviction.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check streaming archives: Many of her 70s BBC performances are available on platforms like BritBox or iPlayer.
- Support her causes: Look into the League Against Cruel Sports or greyhound rescue charities, which remain her primary focus today.
- Explore her stage legacy: While she's retired from screen acting, reading up on her time at the Bristol Old Vic provides deep context for her technical skill.