Billie Whitelaw Biography

Fast Facts

• Was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 for her contributions to drama
• Made her acting debut on the radio at the age of 11 and made her first stage appearance at the Prince's Theatre in Bradford seven years later
• Was a favored interpreter and confidante of playwright Samuel Beckett, who wrote several roles especially for her, including the monologue "Not I․"
• Best known for playing Mrs․ Baylock in "The Omen" and Joyce Cooper in "Hot Fuzz․"
• Was noticed by Laurence Olivier after appearing in "England, Our England" in 1962 and joined his first company at the National Theatre the following year, where she shared a dressing room with Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Geraldine McEwan
• Sold her Samuel Beckett archive, including annotated scripts, letters and costumes, to the University of Reading in 2014
• Published her autobiography, "Billie Whitelaw․․․Who He?," in 1996