Penelope Keith, the British actress whose portrayal of the snobbish Margot Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom The Good Life made her a household name, has died at the age of 86. Her family announced the death in a statement, saying she passed away peacefully at her home in Surrey, southern England, and asked for privacy during the period of mourning.
Keith began her career in 1963 with the Royal Shakespeare Company, building a reputation on the stage before moving into television comedy. The Good Life, which she joined in the 1970s, brought her the widest recognition, with her performance as the aspirational, class-conscious neighbour to the self-sufficient Goods earning her a devoted audience across Britain. She followed it with another prominent role, playing Audrey Forbes Hamilton in To the Manor Born.
Her work was recognised at the highest levels of both the stage and screen. She received an Olivier Award for her theatrical performances and won several BAFTAs for her television comedy work. In 2014, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the arts and to charitable causes.
Keith continued to work in theatre into her later years, maintaining a presence across both the classical and comedic repertoire that had defined her career.
