Beryl Elizabeth Reid OBE (June 17, 1919 – October 13, 1996) was a British actress of stage and screen.
Born in Hereford, England, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in industrial Manchester where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools. She left home at the age of 16 to work in a shop, where she lasted six weeks.
Reid applied for and was accepted in a revue in the summer season in Bridlington in 1936. She had no formal training but joined the Royal National Theatre in London as a comedy actress. Her first big success came in the BBC radio show Educating Archie as naughty schoolgirl Monica and later as the Brummie, Marlene.
Reid's many film and television roles as a character actor were always well received. She reprised her Tony Award-winning performance of a lesbian soap opera star in The Killing of Sister George for the screen version and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Drama.
In both Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People she is seen as Connie Sachs. For Smiley's People she won a BAFTA for Best Actress on Television. She also wrote a biography, So Much Love, which was well received.
Reid died from complications following knee surgery at the age of 77. Her death was registered in South Buckinghamshire.
