Dame Penelope Keith: The Good Life's funny and formidable star

Dame Penelope Keith: The Good Life's funny and formidable starImage source, WireImage via Getty ImagesByRebecca ThomasPublished1 minute agoDame Penelope Keith was one of Britain's best-loved comedy actresses thanks to her inimitable portrayal of Margo Leadbeatter in 1970s sitcom The Good Life, among other roles.As Margo, the formidable social-climbing snob with a cut-glass voice but a soft interior, Keith ensured her place in the nation's hearts.And her transition to her next comedy hit To the Manor Born, playing true-blue aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, felt seamless.Image caption, The Good Life made Penelope Keith a household nameKeith starred in several other sitcoms before later fronting shows about her passion for the British countryside.Over a career that began in the late 1950s, Keith also remained devoted to her theatre roots, performing up and down the UK.For her contribution to entertainment, and charity, Keith was rewarded with TV Baftas, an Olivier, an OBE, a CBE and ultimately a damehood in 2013 - not forgetting the rose named in her honour.In an interview with the Daily Mail,, external she summed up her love of making people smile."Humour is power and a force for good because if you can laugh, particularly at yourself, you are some way to being able to make sense of things," she said.Image source, WPA via Getty ImagesImage caption, Penelope Keith was made a dame for her services to entertainment and charityWhile Keith's voice contributed to her success, it also gave a false impression of her background.Keith (nee Hatfield) was from relatively humble stock. Born in Sutton, Surrey, in 1940, she grew up in Clapham, south London, in the thick of World War Two. Her mother Connie worked as a hotel child entertainment organiser and was often away, so the young Penelope spent a lot of time with her grandparents.Her father had left when she was very young and Connie later remarried, but although she took his surname, Keith woul...