01/27/2026
Wendy Craig at 91 — looking as lovely now as she did then. Few actors have been quite so quietly present in British television history. From the late 1960s onwards, Craig became a familiar face in homes across the country, bringing warmth, intelligence and emotional honesty to roles that reflected everyday life rather than theatrical showmanship.
She first made her mark in Not in Front of the Children, winning the 1969 BAFTA for Best Actress, before going on to lead And Mother Makes Three/Five. Her most enduring role came with Butterflies (1978–83), where her portrayal of Ria Parkinson — thoughtful, conflicted and restless — struck a chord with a generation. She also showed her creative range by creating, co-writing and starring in Nanny, and later took on gentler authority as the Matron in The Royal.
Craig continued acting well into her 80s, appearing in Death in Paradise, Unforgotten, The Worst Witch and Emmerdale, proving her screen presence had lost none of its appeal. In 2020, she was appointed CBE in the New Year Honours, recognising not only her contribution to drama but also her charitable work — a fitting acknowledgement of a long and thoughtful career.
Born in Sacriston, County Durham, Craig was brought up in the North East before training at RADA. She was married to trombonist and journalist Jack Bentley from 1955 until his death in 1994, and has two sons, Alastair — a professional oboist — and Ross. Open about her faith and her life experiences, she has always spoken with the same candour she brought to her performances — grounded, reflective, and unmistakably her own.
