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The Royle Family actress Liz Smith has died aged 95.

Smith played Nana in comedy series The Royle Family and was a much-loved character with fans.

A statement from a spokeswoman said: “The BAFTA award-winning actress Liz Smith has died, on Christmas Eve, at the age of 95, her family has announced.”

As well as playing Nana, she also starred as Mrs Cropley in the Vicar of Dibley alongside Dawn French, and played characters in Lark Rise to Candleford and Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Family.

(Image: PA) (Image: BBC)

Liz was born in Scunthorpe as Betty Gleadle on 11 December 1921 and was brought up by her grandmother.

She married while serving in India but the relationship fell apart in 1959.

She then raised her two children at a time when divorcees were scorned by many in the UK.

(Image: BBC)

(Image: PA)

Her breakthrough came in 1971 when she landed a part as the downtrodden mother in one of Mike Leigh’s bleak plays.

She later recalled: “The moment that my life transformed was when I was standing in Hamley’s one Christmas, flogging toys and I got a message from this young director named Mike Leigh.

(Image: BBC)

“I was nearly 50 at the time, but he wanted a middle-aged woman to do improvisations. I went to an audition and I got the job of the mother in this improvised film – Bleak Moments, his first film – and it changed my life.”

After that, she landed parts in Emmerdale, I Didn’t Know You Cared and The Sweeney.

In 1984, she received a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Maggie Smith’s mother in A Private Function.

(Image: PA)

In 1998, she starred in BBC hit The Royle Family which aired until 2000, and then came back for a special episode in 2006 when her character died.

A year later she was voted the Best Television Comedy Actress at the British Comedy Awards for the role.

In summer 2009, she announced she was retiring from acting after suffering a stroke earlier that year.

(Image: BBC/GRANADA)

Speaking to The Telegraph, she said the stroke had "finished" her, before adding: "I’ll probably get enough energy [to act again].

"In about another year! I’m not retiring. I’m just resting for a while.”

The same year she was awarded an MBE.

(Image: Sunday Mirror)

Tributes have already come pouring in for the beloved actress.

"Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana," her former co-star Ralf Little shared on Twitter.

Film and TV actor Richard E Grant shared: "Liz Smith-I loved working with you on the George Orwell film & privileged to have played & danced together R.I.P."

Her death comes in the same year her as co-star Caroline Aherne, who died from lung cancer.