Dame Penelope Keith dies news: Dame Penelope Keith dies: Broadcaster Gyles offered condolences; said: ‘She was a very special lady;

Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth has paid tribute to Dame Penelope Keith following her death, remembering the much-loved actress for her warmth, humor and extraordinary contribution to British television and theatre. Image source (Gyles Brandreth Instagram)

Dame Penelope Keith, the acclaimed British actress best known for her iconic roles in the classic 1970s sitcoms It’s a Wonderful Life and Born for the House, has died aged 86. Her family announced on Monday that she “passed away peacefully while battling cancer at her home in Surrey,” where she had lived for more than five decades.Broadcaster Gails Brandreth has paid tribute to the much-loved actress, looking back on her extraordinary career and lasting impact on British television and theatre, reports the BBC. In her statement, Brandreth emphasized the importance of Keith’s most famous role and her broader achievements as a performer.

The broadcaster also addressed common misconceptions about Keith’s character, noting that while viewers know her best for her comedic roles, she is a much more versatile and down-to-earth person in reality. “But she doesn’t really look like those characters; she can look like those characters. She acts a little like that, but as a person she’s very funny, very down to earth, very real,” Brandreth explained.

In his Instagram post, Brandreth expressed his personal thoughts on Keith as a professional and as a person. “She was a very special woman – a wonderful actress, a true friend, so funny, so generous with her time to good causes. She did have a great life,” he concluded.

Dame Penelope Keith’s Iconic TV Character

Keith became a household name for her role as snobbish suburban neighbor Margot Leadbetter in 1975’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Her performance earned her a 1977 British Academy Film Award for Best Performance in a Light Entertainment Television. She later achieved the same reputation playing the widow Audrey Forbes-Hamilton in The Manor of Birth.In 1979, the final episode of The Manor was viewed by almost 24 million people, making it the highest-rated non-live program on British television that decade. The show cemented Keith’s status as one of America’s most famous comedic actresses.

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