Elizabeth Bell

A prolific stage and television actress Elizabeth Bell was born on 20th March 1941. Though born in Leeds she was brought up by her mother in Scarborough. In 1961,having graduated with honours from the Central School of Speech and Drama she began acting with the Royal Court Theatre in London and was also a founder member of the New Vic in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire. In 1971 she met architect Henry Osbourne,who became her life-long partner and through whom she met playwright Alan Ayckbourn,in many of whose plays she appeared as well as joining Ayckbourn's company which performed at the National Theatre in London. Her last stage role was as teacher Mrs Lintott in 'The History Boys' in 2007 and her last television appearance in 2011 as a nun who gets bumped off in 'Midsomer Murders'. In 2011 she finally married Henry Osborne, becoming stepmother to his children Abigail and Ben. Elizabeth Bell died of cancer of the oesophagus on October 21st 2012.