Acting
Rita May
Born 1942-05-09
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Department: Acting
Biography
Rita May is an English film and television actress, singer, and writer, best known for playing Mrs Kemp in Threads, Jean in Early Doors and Margaret in Trollied. She's also the only original cast remember who appeared in all episodes of the children's ITV drama series "Children's Ward" from 1989 to 2000.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Rita May
Movie
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In the Loop
2009
TMDB3.5
TV
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Play for Today
1970
TMDB3.3
Movie
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Threads
1984
TMDB3.8
Movie
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Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974
2009
TMDB3.3
TV
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Heartbeat
1992
TMDB3.6
TV
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Last of the Summer Wine
1973
TMDB3.6
TV
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Playhouse
1974
TMDB3.5
Movie
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Everybody's Talking About Jamie
2021
TMDB3.1
TV
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Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators
2018
TMDB3.6
TV
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Trollied
2011
TMDB3.3
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (35 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Survivors: The Spectre of Threads | Self | Movie | 2025 |
 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Mrs. Cardwell | Movie | 2021 |
 | Walk Like a Panther | Mabel Higgins | Movie | 2018 |
 | Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators | Emilia Merchant | TV Series | 2018 |
 | Ackley Bridge | Julie "Nana" Booth | TV Series | 2017 |
 | The Syndicate | Nanna | TV Series | 2012 |
 | Trollied | Margaret | TV Series | 2011 |
 | Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974 | Aunty Win | Movie | 2009 |
 | Red Riding | Aunty Win | TV Series | 2009 |
 | In the Loop | Mrs Michaelson | Movie | 2009 |
 | Sunshine | Doreen | TV Series | 2008 |
 | Nits | Nan | Movie | 2004 |
 | Early Doors | Jean Dixon | TV Series | 2003 |
 | The Royal | Aunt Mary Graham | TV Series | 2003 |
 | Fat Friends | Joan Kirk | TV Series | 2000 |
 | Fanny & Elvis | Rick's Mother | Movie | 1999 |
 | Sharpe's Justice | Mrs. Trent | Movie | 1997 |
 | When Saturday Comes | Mabel | Movie | 1996 |
 | Hetty Wainthropp Investigates | Supermarket Shopper | TV Series | 1996 |
 | Heartbeat | Mrs. Nelly Sneddon | TV Series | 1992 |
 | Children's Ward | Mags | TV Series | 1989 |
| Scab | Janice | Movie | 1987 | |
 | Edge of Darkness | Tea Lady | TV Series | 1985 |
 | Threads | Mrs. Kemp | Movie | 1984 |
 | The Gathering Seed | Martha Kilbride | TV Series | 1983 |
 | England's Greens and Peasant Land | Pat | Movie | 1982 |
| England's Greens and Peasant Land | Writer | Movie | 1982 |
 | Looks and Smiles | Receptionist | Movie | 1981 |
 | One Hundred and Eighty!!! | Writer | Movie | 1981 |
 | The Gamekeeper | Mary | Movie | 1980 |
 | The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality | Kath Storey | Movie | 1977 |
 | The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People | Kath Storey | Movie | 1977 |
 | Playhouse | Writer | TV Series | 1974 |
 | Last of the Summer Wine | Celia | TV Series | 1973 |
 | Play for Today | Writer | TV Series | 1970 |