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Penelope Keith: the most spectacular sitcom snob ever to grace our screens
In The Good Life, To the Manor Born and beyond, the star played domineering snobs with pinpoint comic timing – yet she still made them feel like old friends. No one will do it better
TL;DR
- Penelope Keith excelled at playing snobbish characters, bringing nuanced performances to sitcoms.
- Her most famous roles include Margo Leadbetter in 'The Good Life' (1975-1978) and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in 'To the Manor Born' (1979-1981).
- Keith's strength lay in her ability to find new variations and nuances within stock character types, making them feel more lifelike.
- She possessed pinpoint comic timing and an ability to imbue even difficult characters with humanity.
- While her characters were often domineering snobs, Keith's acting invited viewers to see their underlying vulnerability or relatable traits.