Early life

Law was born in Glasgow, the daughter of Megsie "Meg" and William Law, a journalist. She was married to actor Eric Thompson from 1957 until his death in 1982. Their daughters, Emma and Sophie Thompson, are both actresses. She has appeared in many documentaries and interviews concerning her late husband's work on The Magic Roundabout.

Career

Law has worked extensively in television, including appearances in Dixon of Dock Green, Rumpole of the Bailey and the 1972 adaptation of the Lord Peter Wimsey tale The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. She appeared in films such as Peter's Friends (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) (playing Ursula, alongside daughter Emma as Beatrice) and The Winter Guest (1997) (playing Elspeth, alongside daughter Emma as Frances).

She was in the original London cast of La Cage aux Folles at the London Palladium in 1986, playing the role of Jacqueline.

In 2004 she guest-starred in the Rosemary & Thyme episode entitled "Orpheus in the Undergrowth" as May Beauchamp. In 2007 she guest-starred in two Doctor Who spin-off adventures: as Bea Nelson-Stanley in The Sarah Jane Adventures story "Eye of the Gorgon" and as Beldonia in the audio drama Doctor Who: The Bride of Peladon. Also in 2007 she played Aunt Auriel in the drama Kingdom starring Stephen Fry. In 2008 she appeared as a guest star in Foyle's War.

In November 2009 Law published her first book. Notes to my Mother-In-Law concerns the 17 years Thompson's mother-in-law lived with the family from the mid-1960s until her death. In January 2010 she appeared with Tony Slattery on Ready Steady Cook. She starred alongside John Hurt in a short film entitled Love at First Sight which was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2012.

Law received an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to drama and for charitable services.

Film and television

• Play School (1964) (TV)
• Otley (1968)
• The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1972)
• A Picture of Katherine Mansfield (1973)
• Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
• Come Back Lucy (1978)
• The Barchester Chronicles (1982)
• That's Love (1988-92) (TV series)
• The House of Eliott (1991) (TV series)
• Peter's Friends (1992)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
• Before the Rain (1994)
• The Blue Boy (1994) (TV film)
• Junior (1994)
• Hamish Macbeth (1995) (TV)
• Emma (1996)
• Anna Karenina (1997)
• The Winter Guest (1997)
• The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)
• Midsomer Murders (1999) (TV)
• Saving Grace (2000)
• The Time Machine (2002)
• Brush with Fate (2003) (TV film)
• Rosemary & Thyme (2004) (TV)
• Nanny McPhee (2005)
• Danny the Dog (2005)
• Mee-Shee: The Water Giant (2005)
• Afterlife (2005) (TV)
• Miss Potter (2006)
• Kingdom (2007—2009) (TV)
• The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007) (TV)
• The Waiting Room (2007)
• Miss Austen Regrets (2007)
• Foyle's War (2008) (TV)
• Hallowe'en Party (2010) (TV)
• Ways to Live Forever (2010)
• Love at First Sight (2010)
• Doc Martin (2010) (TV)
• Arrietty (2011)
• Midsomer Murders (2011) (TV)
• New Tricks (2013) (TV)

Published works

• Law, Phyllida (2009). Notes to my Mother-in-Law. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0007338412.
• Law, Phyllida (2013). How Many Camels Are There in Holland?: Dementia, Ma and Me. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-0007485864.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]