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Billie Whitelaw

Billie Whitelaw

Actor · Died December 21, 2014, aged 82 · Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK

Billie Honor Whitelaw (6 June 1932 – 21 December 2014) was an English stage and screen actress. She worked in close collaborration with Irish playwright Samuel Beckett for 25 years and wass regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of his works. She was also known for her portrayal of Mrs Baylock, the demonic nanny in The Omen.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 6, 1932
Died
December 21, 2014 (aged 82)
From
Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 104 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 5% in 30 days

What are Billie Whitelaw's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
26%
Power
24%
Self
19%
Bonds
13%
Survival
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
3%
Class7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 18

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 14 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 13

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 3 of 12 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
3 of 12
Shadow
3 of 12
Mentor
3 of 12
Ally
2 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
16
Dread
10
Absurd
4
Romantic
6
Other
19

How their films linger

Unsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Billie Whitelaw's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Billie Whitelaw's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

104 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • I, Of Whom I Know Nothing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Hot Fuzz(2007)

    as Joyce Cooper

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Judge John Deed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Dinner of Herbs(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kate Makepeace

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Quills(2000)

    as Madame LeClerc

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Last of the Blonde Bombshells(2000)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Lost Son(1999)

    as Mrs. Spitz

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Shooting the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Veronica

  • Wife of Bath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Wife of Bath (voice)

  • Merlin(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ambrosia

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Born to Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lili Flitch

  • Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as interviewee

  • Jane Eyre(1996)

    as Grace Poole

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Deadly Advice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Kate Webster

  • Skallagrigg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Margaret

  • The Entertainer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Phoebe Rice

  • Freddie as F.R.O.7.(1992)

    as Messina (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Firm Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rose Gutteridge

  • The Cloning of Joanna May (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mavis

  • Duel of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dorcas

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Phoebe Rice

  • A Murder of Quality(1991)

    as Mad Janie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Morrissey - Hulmerist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Cast - Everyday is Like Sunday

  • Lorna Doone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sarah Ridd

  • The Krays(1990)

    as Violet Kray

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Fifteen Streets(1989)

    as Beatrice Llewellyn

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Margie

  • The Dressmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Margo

  • Joyriders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Tammi O'Moore

  • The Secret Garden(1987)

    as Mrs. Medlock

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Maurice(1987)

    as Mrs. Hall

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Imaginary Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Elsie Novar

  • Shadey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Doctor Cloud

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Margie

  • Murder Elite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Margaret Baker

  • Camille(1984)

    as Prudence Duvorney

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Chain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mrs. Andreos

  • Slayground(1983)

    as Madge

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Making Samuel Beckett's 'Rockaby' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as The Actress

  • Jamaica Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Aunt Patience

  • Jamaica Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Aunt Patience

  • The Dark Crystal(1982)

    as Aughra (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Elizabeth Leaming

  • Tangiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Louise

  • Last Summer's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Rose Marriott

  • Private Schulz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bertha Freyer

  • Rockaby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as W

  • A Tale of Two Cities(1980)

    as Madame Therese Defarge

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Happy Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Winnie

  • Leopard in the Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Isabel James

  • The Water Babies(1978)

    as Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby / Old Crone / Mrs. Tripp / Woman in Black / Water Babies 'Gate Keeper'

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Thomas Hardy: A Haunted Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Emma Hardy

  • Supernatural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Countess Ilona

  • Ghost Trio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Omen(1976)

    as Mrs. Baylock

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Space: 1999(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Zamara

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Ten from the Twenties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Eulalia 'Lally' Burnes

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose Marriott

  • Napoleon and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 8 episodes · as Josephine Bonaparte

  • Not I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Auditor/Mouth

  • Night Watch(1973)

    as Sarah Cooke

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Wessex Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Rhoda

  • Follow the Yellow Brick Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Judy Black

  • Night Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Wendy

  • The Sextet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Dora · as Eileen Firebrace · as Judy Black · as Katherine · as Megan · as Stella Ramsdale · as Valerie Goodis · as Wendy

  • Frenzy(1972)

    as Hetty Porter

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Poet Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jeanne Saunders

  • Eagle in a Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Madame Bertrand

  • Gumshoe(1971)

    as Ellen Ginley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Brown Skin Gal, Stay Home and Mind Bay-Bee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Ruth

  • Leo the Last(1970)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Wicked Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Madeleine Jury

  • Start the Revolution Without Me(1970)

    as Queen Marie

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Adding Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Daisy Devore

  • Twisted Nerve(1968)

    as Joan Harper

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Bubbles(1968)

    as Lottie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1968)

    as Gwyn Thomas

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Janetta O'James

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Greta

  • Knock on Any Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Queenie Swann

  • The Comedy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Judy

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Marguerite Gautier

  • Espionage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Doreen McBride

  • The Devil's Agent(1962)

    as Piroska Maslov

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Stryker of the Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Like Money(1961)

    as Ernestine

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • No Love for Johnnie(1961)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Payroll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Jackie Parker

  • Lena, O My Lena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lena

  • Make Mine Mink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lily

  • Hell Is a City(1960)

    as Chloe Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Flesh and the Fiends(1960)

    as Mary Patterson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Bobbikins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Lydia Simmons

  • Breakout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Rose Munro

  • Carve Her Name with Pride(1958)

    as Winnie

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Small Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Caroline Mallet

  • Miracle in Soho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Maggie

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Agnes Mawson · as Francesca · as Gloria · as Lena · as Marlene Watts · as Nancy Harper · as Ruth

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenda

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Confidential Report(1955)

    as Raina Arkadin (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Room in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Margaret

  • The Sleeping Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Receptionist at Pearce & Mann

  • The Fake(1953)

    as Waitress

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Medlock · as Prudence

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles from 1951 to 2014; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

The Krays (1990)

$62M worldwide

Highest rated

Maurice (1987)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Omen (1976)

Film career

19512014

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1954Screen debut· The Sleeping Tiger
  • 1976Career best· The Omen

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting104 of 104: 104 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1950s12 · acting1960s19 · acting1970s25 · acting1980s23 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
546474

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Billie Whitelaw's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992)

78th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Billie Whitelaw's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles28–88 · median 77 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles14–76 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles15–77 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles14–38 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles24–89 · median 86 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Billie Whitelaw work with?

People who share at least 2 of Billie Whitelaw's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Denholm Elliott shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles