Acting
Linda Bassett
Born Feb 4, 1950 · Pluckley, Kent, England, UK
Linda Bassett was born in the Kentish village of Pluckley - location for the television series The Darling Buds of May (1991). She was brought up in Pimlico, South London, by her typist mother and police officer father. She became interested in acting as a child when she was frequently taken to see plays in London, most notably at the Old Vic, the famous classical theater. On leaving school, Linda went to work at the Old Vic as an usherette and catering manager, before going to read English at Leeds University. However, she dropped out after a year and became involved in a local drama group which put on plays in community-based locations, such as schools. She regards this as her theatrical schooling, having had no formal training. She made her London stage debut at the age of 32 in 1982 and, in 1991, joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Although she was a well-regarded stage performer, it was the 1999 film version of the play East Is East (1999) (in which she had been an original stage cast member) which brought her to a larger audience and, throughout the 2000s, she has been a familiar face in a variety of films and television series. In the late 1980s, she returned to live in Pluckley.
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Acting
Bare Roots
2026
Drama
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
2023
Drama
Careful How You Go
2018
Comedy · Drama
Strike
2017
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Carnage: Swallowing the Past
2017
Comedy · Science Fiction
Effie Gray
2014
Drama
National Theatre Live: People
2013
Comedy
Spies of Warsaw
2013
Drama
The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby
2012
Drama
Call the Midwife
2012
Drama
West Is West
2010
Comedy
Grandma's House
2010
Comedy
The Reader
2008
Drama · Romance
Lark Rise to Candleford
2008
Drama
Cass
2008
Crime · Drama
Sense and Sensibility
2008
Drama
Colour Me Kubrick
2005
Comedy · Drama
Separate Lies
2005
Romance · Drama · Thriller
Kinky Boots
2005
Comedy · Drama · Music
Spivs
2004
Action · Comedy · Drama
The Brief
2004
Drama
Calendar Girls
2003
Drama · Comedy
This Little Life
2003
Drama
The Hours
2002
Drama
The Martins
2001
Comedy · Drama
Don Quixote
2000
Adventure · Comedy · TV Movie
Beautiful People
1999
War · Comedy · Drama
East Is East
1999
Drama · Comedy
dinnerladies
1998
Comedy
Far from the Madding Crowd
1998
Drama
Far from the Madding Crowd
1998
Drama · Romance · TV Movie
Spoonface Steinberg
1998
TV Movie · Drama
Our Mutual Friend
1998
Drama
The Life and Crimes of William Palmer
1998
Drama · Crime
Oscar and Lucinda
1997
Drama · Romance
Midsomer Murders
1997
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Alive and Kicking
1996
Comedy · Drama
No Bananas
1996
Drama
Mary Reilly
1996
Drama · Horror · Thriller
Haunted
1995
Mystery · Horror · Fantasy
Loved Up
1995
Drama · Romance
Bramwell
1995
Drama
A Village Affair
1995
Drama · Romance · TV Movie
Kavanagh Q.C.
1995
Crime · Drama
In The Cold Light Of Day
1994
Drama · TV Movie
Skallagrigg
1994
Drama · TV Movie · Fantasy
Frank Stubbs Promotes
1993
Comedy
A Touch of Frost
1992
Drama · Crime · Mystery
Heartbeat
1992
Crime · Drama · Comedy
A Small Dance
1991
Drama · TV Movie
Let Him Have It
1991
Drama
News Hounds
1990
Comedy · Drama · TV Movie
Traffik
1989
Drama · Crime
Paris by Night
1989
Drama · Thriller
Waiting for the Moon
1987
Comedy · Drama · TV Movie
Casualty
1986
Drama · Soap
The Bill
1984
Crime · Drama
Dramarama
1983
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama
American Playhouse
1982
Drama · Comedy