Phyllida Law, the celebrated stage and screen actress and mother of Dame Emma and Sophie Thompson, has died at the age of 94. Her manager, Jacky Leggo, confirmed the news in a statement to the, noting that the actress passed away peacefully at home on Monday, 27 July, surrounded by her family. Leggo, who had worked with Law for over five decades, described her as a beautiful person both inside and out.
Born in Glasgow in 1932, Law initially attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School with the intention of becoming a stage designer. However, she transitioned into acting through what she later described as a happy accident. In 1957, she married fellow actor Eric Thompson, who gained fame for his work on The Magic Roundabout. The couple remained together until his death from a heart attack in 1982 at the age of 53.
Law enjoyed a prolific career spanning eight decades, appearing in numerous television staples such asDixon of Dock GreenRumpole of the BaileyMidsomer MurdersFoyle’s WarDoc MartinandNew Tricks. Her filmography included roles inAnna KareninaSaving GraceandMiss Potter. On stage, she performed alongside Alec Guinness inA Voyage Round My Fatherin 1971 and appeared in Alan Bennett’sHabeas Corpusin 1973. In 1986, she played Jacqueline in the original London production ofLa Cage Aux Follesat the London Palladium.
Throughout her career, Law frequently shared the screen with her daughters. In the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen’sEmmashe played Mrs. Bates while Sophie portrayed her daughter, Miss Bates. She also appeared with Dame Emma in the 1992 filmPeter’s Friendsdirected by her then-son-in-law Sir Kenneth Branagh, and reunited with them for Sir Kenneth’s 1993 adaptation ofMuch Ado About Nothing. Additionally, the pair played mother and daughter in Alan Rickman’s 1997 directorial debutThe Winter Guestand Law provided the voice of Mrs. Partridge in Emma’s 2005 filmNanny McPhee.
Both of her daughters have achieved significant acclaim. Dame Emma, born in 1959, is a two-time Oscar winner for her acting inHowards Endand her screenplay forSense and Sensibilitywith other notable credits includingLove Actuallyand theHarry Potterseries. Sophie, born in 1964, has appeared in films likeGosford ParkandFour Weddings and a Funeraland has earned seven Olivier Award nominations for her stage work.
Reflecting on their success in a 2017 interview with the Telegraph, Law joked that her daughters had not merely followed in her footsteps but had rushed past her. She maintained a lifelong devotion to the arts, once quipping that she wanted her funeral held in the afternoon with a 2:30 p.m. curtain call so that attendees could still make it to the theatre afterward.
Law’s contribution to the arts was formally recognized in 2014 when she received an OBE for her services to drama and charity. Her family’s artistic legacy continues with the next generation; Dame Emma’s daughter, Gaia, paid tribute to her grandmother on Instagram, writing, “Rest well my queen.”
In 2012, Law also starred alongside John Hurt in the short filmLove at First Sightwhich received an Oscar nomination. Her enduring presence in the industry and her close professional and personal ties to her daughters defined a career that spanned generations of British entertainment. The report also notes that external, Law said: “They are both my colleagues in a way, speaking about her daughters to the Telegraph in 2017. The report also notes that they rushed past us, trampling on us, they didn’t follow in our footsteps.
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