Actress Phyllida Law, Mother of Emma and Sophie Thompson, Dies at 94

Phyllida Law, a celebrated stage and screen actress and mother of Dame Emma and Sophie Thompson, has passed away at 94. Known for her extensive career and collaborations with her daughters, Law was honored with an OBE in 2014.

Stage and screen actress Phyllida Law, the mother of Dame Emma and Sophie Thompson, has died at the age of 94. Her manager, Jacky Leggo, confirmed that she passed away peacefully at home on Monday, surrounded by her family. Leggo, who worked with Law for over fifty years, described her as a "beautiful person inside and out."

Law had a long and varied career, often sharing the screen with her daughters. She appeared alongside Sophie in the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, playing Mrs. Bates to Sophie's Miss Bates.

She also collaborated with Dame Emma in Peter's Friends (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and The Winter Guest (1997). Later, she voiced Mrs. Partridge in Nanny McPhee (2005), a film written and starring her eldest daughter.

Career Highlights

Born in Glasgow in 1932, Law initially studied stage design at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but transitioned to acting. She married fellow actor Eric Thompson in 1957, remaining together until his death in 1982. Over eight decades, Law appeared in numerous TV shows, including Dickson of Dock Green, Rumpole of the Bailey, Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, Doc Martin, and New Tricks.

On the big screen, she starred in films such as Anna Karenina, Saving Grace, and Miss Potter.

On stage, she performed alongside Alec Guinness in A Voyage Round My Father (1971) and appeared in Habeas Corpus (1973) and La Cage Aux Folles (1986). She also starred in the Oscar-shortlisted short film Love at First Sight (2012) with John Hurt. Law was awarded an OBE in 2014 for her contributions to drama and charitable work.

Family Legacy

Law's daughters, Emma and Sophie Thompson, have achieved significant success in their own careers. Emma, born in 1959, has won two Oscars-one for acting in Howard's End and another for writing Sense and Sensibility-and is known for roles in Love Actually and the Harry Potter series. Sophie, born in 1964, has appeared in films like Gosford Park and Four Weddings and a Funeral and has received seven Olivier Award nominations.

In a 2017 interview with The Telegraph, Law humorously remarked about her daughters: "They didn't follow in our footsteps, they rushed past us, trampling on us." The family's acting legacy continues with Emma's daughter, Gaia, who paid tribute to her grandmother on Instagram, calling her "my queen."

Law's passion for the arts was evident in her life and work. She once joked about her funeral, saying it should be held in the afternoon so attendees could "get to the theatre afterwards."

Source: BBC Entertainment and Arts