Patricia Routledge Biography
Patricia Routledge (born – Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge) is an English Singer and Actress, well-known for appearing in many films and shows. Some of them include Keeping Up Appearances – 30 Years Of Laughs, Girl Stroke Boy, Beatrix Potter with Patricia Routledge, Blips, Anybody’s Nightmare, and many others.
Patricia Routledge Age
Routledge was born on February 17, 1929, in Tranmere, Cheshire, United Kingdom. She is therefore 94 years old as of 2023. She celebrates her birthday on the 17th of February every year.
Patricia Routledge Height
Routledge stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 5 inches.
Patricia Routledge Family
Routledge was married to her loving parents, Isaac Routledge (father) and Catherine Routledge (mother). Her parents are currently divorced. Her dad worked as a gentlemen’s outfitter and haberdasher. Routledge wa raised alongside her brother, Graham Routledge.
Patricia Routledge Husband / Partner
Routledge has never been married and doesn’t have any kids. In a 2001 interview, she explained that she didn’t actively choose to be single and childless. Her dedication to acting took up so much of her life that it just happened that way. During the same interview, she talked about two romantic relationships she had in the past. One was with a married man when she was in her late 20s, and the other was with a man who was directing a play she was in, which happened some years later.
Patricia Routledge Gay
Rumors have it that Routledge is gay. However, she has never confirmed the rumors to date, so they’ll remain to be rumors.
Patricia Routledge Net Worth
Routledge has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million-$5 Million which she has earned through her successful career as a Singer and Actress.
Patricia Routledge Education
Routledge is a proud alumnus of the University of Liverpool and Birkenhead High School. She obtained a degree in English Language and Literature from the university. The University of Chester at Chester Cathedral honored Routledge with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, on March 15, 2019. The degree was for her contributions to TV and theatre. Also, in the year 2008, Lancaster University recognized Routledge with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, for her contributions to theater and drama.
During her stint in college, she joined the university’s dramatic society and became friends with Edmund Colledge, who was both a director and actor in many of their productions. Routledge got encouraged by him to follow a career in acting. After finishing college, she went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for training. Then, she came back to Liverpool and started her journey of acting at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Patricia Routledge Career
Movie Career
Routledge is famous for her funny character, Hyacinth Bucket, in the BBC sitcom “Keeping Up Appearances” from 1990 to 1995. She was a proud nominee for the BAFTA TV Award – it was for her excellent comedy performances in the years 1993 and 1992. In addition to her TV work, she also appeared in movies like “Don’t Raise the Bridge”, “Lower the River” (1968), and “To Sir, with Love” (1967).
Her acting journey started at the Liverpool Playhouse in the year 1952, where she made her professional stage debut. Later on, she went to Broadway and made her debut there in the play called How’s the World Treating You in the year 1966.
In the ’80s, she became well-known on TV for her performances in monologues written by Victoria Wood and Alan Bennett. She appeared in Bennett’s A Woman of No Importance in the year 1982 and played Kitty in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV from 1985 to 1986. Her remarkable acting in Bennett’s Talking Heads: A Lady of Letters earned her a nomination for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1988.
She also starred as Hetty Wainthropp in “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates” (the British TV series), which aired in the year 1990 and later from 1996 to 1998. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to entertainment and charity, Queen Elizabeth II honored her by making her a dame in the year 2017.
Radio Career | Audio Books
In the year 1966, Routledge sang different roles in a series of BBC Radio recordings of Sullivan and Gilbert’s operas, including Mad Margaret in Ruddigore, the main role in Iolanthe, and Melissa in Princess Ida. Later, in the year 1989, she participated in a studio broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s opera called Vakula the Smith. In the year 2006, she got featured in an episode of the Stage and Screen series on Radio 3.
Routledge has been part of many radio shows, including a number of plays written by the BBC adaptation of Carole Hayman’s Ladies of Letters and Alan Bennett. In this show, she and Prunella Scales played retired women who exchange funny letters over many years. The 10th series of Ladies of Letters premiered in the year 2009 on BBC Radio 4.
Before the year 1985, Routledge was involved in various radio works like Private Lives, The Cherry Orchard, Present Laughter, Romeo and Juliet, The Fountain Overflows, and Alice in Wonderland. She has a unique and recognizable voice and has recorded and released different audiobooks. These include complete readings of shortened versions of the Hetty Wainthropp series novels, and Alice’s Adventures and Wuthering Heights in Wonderland.
Patricia Routledge Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, she has won many awards for her incredible work. She received special honors for her work in theater and charity. In the year 1993, she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in the year 2017, she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). In the year 2004, she became Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). The Royal Academy of Music also honored her with honorary membership in the year 2022.
She is the honorary president of the Association of English Singers & Speakers, which encourages clear and imaginative communication of English words in speech and song. Since the year 2003, she has been sponsoring the annual AESS National English Song Prize.
For her performances, she received prestigious awards. In the year 1968, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Darling of the Day, and in the year 1988, she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Candide.
Other Facts About Patricia Routledge
Since the year 2000, Routledge has been living in Chichester and often goes to Chichester Cathedral for worship. In the year 2020, she played a part in raising £10,000 to fix the cathedral roof. She supports the Beatrix Potter Society and is an ambassador for a charity called Royal Voluntary Service, which used to be known as WRVS. She was good friends with Betty Boothroyd, the former Speaker of the House of Commons. When Betty Boothroyd passed away in March 2023, they played her recording of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” at the funeral.
Is Patricia Routledge Alive?
Yes, she is alive and kicking.
Patricia Routledge Movies and TV Shows
Films/Movies
Routledge has appeared in many movies such as;
- Girl Stroke Boy
- Egghead’s Robot
- If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
- Lock Up Your Daughters
- The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom
- Pretty Polly
TV Shows
Routledge has appeared in many television shows such as;
- Keeping Up Appearances – 30 Years Of Laughs
- Anybody’s Nightmare
- Talking Heads 2
- Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
- Keeping Up Appearances
- Hildegard of Bingen
Solo Studio Album
She has one studio album, which is titled “Presenting Patricia Routledge” (1973).
Patricia Routledge Social Media Platforms
She is active on her social media accounts and is often seen posting on her Facebook and Twitter. She has over 860 followers on Facebook.
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