Elizabeth Bell (actress)

Bell was born in 1941 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, the daughter of Elizabeth and Neil Bell. The family moved to Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire when she was four, after her father left. She attended the girls' high school there. She then decided to attend Central School of Speech and Drama in London.[1][2][3] In 1971 she was living with the architect Henry Osborne, and they were married in 2011. She died of oesophageal cancer in 2012.[1][2]

Her career was closely associated in particular with Alan Ayckbourn whom she knew from her early work in Scarborough to being her neighbour in London.[2][4][5]

Bell appeared with English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre, the National theatre, the Almeida, the Pleasance, the Bush and in the West End. She appeared in the first season of the dedicated Theatre in the round at Stoke-on-Trent. Bell was also a regular on television and in radio productions. She was a founder member of the Victoria theatre, which is now known as the New Vic.[1][2][5]

Bell went on to become a mentor for Central School students as well as an external examiner for Trinity College London[1]

1961 The gold medal and Sybil Thorndike prize, Central School of Speech and Drama, London

Alan Ayckbourn said of her:[1]

• 1966 Beset by Women in the Prince of Wales Theatre
• 1970 The Soldier’s Fortune in the Royal Court
• 1987 A View from the Bridge at The National Theatre
• 1989 The Revengers' Comedies in the theatre in the round at Scarborough,
• 1990 Othello in Scarborough
• 1992 Euripides’ Medea at the Almeida
• 1996 Goldhawk Road at the Bush Theatre
• 1998 Richard III at the Pleasance
• 2005 The UN Inspector at the National Theatre
• 2007 The History Boys for the NT at Wyndham's Theatre

• Elizabeth Bell at IMDb