Elizabeth Spender (born 1950) is a film and television actress known for her role in Brazil.

Early life and education

Spender is the daughter of concert pianist Natasha Spender (née Litvin) and the poet, novelist and essayist Stephen Spender. She studied drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Drama Centre London. She also attended an Arvon Foundation television play-writing course which was taught by Jack Rosenthal.

Career

Among numerous television and film credits, she appeared in Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult film Brazil. She has written two BBC TV dramas: Hedgehog Wedding (1987) produced by Innes Lloyd, and These Foolish Things (1989) which starred Lindsay Duncan. In the 1990s she wrote a series of Pastability cookbooks. In 2005 she published a memoir of her childhood, The Wild Horse Diaries (ISBN 9780733619755).

Personal life

From 1990 until his death in 2023, she was married to the Australian actor and satirist Barry Humphries. They had met at a Groucho Club party in 1988.

Filmography

Film

Television