Product Description

Liz Smith, once called the nation's favourite fictional grandmother, is a familiar face to all TV and cinema viewers. She is most often recognised for her role of Nana in The Royle Family. OUR BETTY is Liz's life story - from her cosseted yet lonely childhood with her beloved grandparents (her mother died giving birth to Liz's stillborn sibling), through the war with the WRENS, marriage and children, divorce and poverty, long years working in dead-end jobs such as in a plastic bag factory, until her heavenly escape of evening acting classes provided the chance for a career. While working at Hamley's one Christmas ('I was one of those tiresome people who stop you and beg you to try samples of this and that'), she received a phone call from a young director who wanted to make an improvised film. His name was Mike Leigh and the film Bleak Moments. From that point, when Liz was 50, her career took off and she has worked with some of the most famous names in the entertainment business. OUR BETTY is, like its author, original, amusing and fascinating on the struggles, hopes and successes endemic of a life in front of the camera.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39080 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Gay Times, March 2006
"Charming, effortless, honest and tinged with sadness. As we imagine Liz is, it's slightly batty but utterly lovely."

Good Housekeeping, March 2006
"Threaded through with her struggles, the book shines with Smith's enthusiasm and idiosyncratic observations."

Sunday Telegraph
'Typically idiosyncratic... shot through with shafts of broad comedy. It's difficult not to gobble it all up in one go'

Customer Reviews

A lovely book-well worth a read!!
This book is exceptionally well written.Liz Smith tells the tale of her life by weaving us through her story, and what an interesting and packed life she has led.As we meander with her on the trip down memory lane,she paints a vivid picture for us the reader and we are left with a feeling of enormous satisfaction upon finishing the book.There are no scandalous revelations here,no fuss or pomposity-just a life laid down on paper.And that's the appeal.It's not a hefty tome by any stretch of the imagination-most people will read this in a few hours.Highly recommended.

fame begins at 50
Liz Smith, now well known for her role as Nanna in the Royle family as well as being in a familiar face in The Vicar Of Dibley didn't find fame in the acting world till she was 50. Left on her own after her husband leaves her to bring up 2 young children she does a variety of jobs to try and make ends meet. The most precious thing she has which her grandma told her to always keep was a house, for which her grandma left provision in her will. Liz was brought up by her grandparents and when her grandad died they were left in poverty. Nothing daunted the grandma and Liz do their best by getting little jobs and saving and economising on their food, a lesson which leaves Liz in good stead years later when she becomes a single parent. Even if you're not a big fan of the Royle Family (I'm not) you will stillenjoy this book.

Going places
It was that comment on 'Forrest Gump' versus 'Gilbert Grape' that had me nodding furiously in agreement!
I have 'upstairs books' and 'downstairs books' so there's always something to read. But this was one that travelled the stairs with me, as I couldn't bear to put it down. The editors had the good sense to stay true to the author's voice, I think, so the writing adds up to more than its number of words. If this lady does not become a Dame, as they suggest, I might even eat one of Letitia's toothpaste cakes....