Judith Margaret Loe (born 6 March 1947)^[1] is an English television actress. She was married to actor Richard Beckinsale until his death in 1979, and later married director Roy Battersby until his death in 2024. She is the mother of actress Kate Beckinsale, and the stepmother of Kate's half-sister, Samantha.

Early life

Loe was born in Urmston, Lancashire, the daughter of Norman Scarborough Loe, who worked in equipment business, and Nancy (née Jones) who was a department store worker and model.^[1][2] She attended Urmston Grammar School and the University of Birmingham, where she graduated with a BA degree in English and Drama.^[3]

Television

Loe was in the original British cast of the rock musical Hair.^[4] In 1970 she made her debut on British television in the ITV Thames Television programme Ace of Wands broadcast 1970–72 as Lillian 'Lillu' Palmer. Loe then made guest appearances in series such as Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Man at the Top, Armchair Theatre and ITV Playhouse.^[5]

In 1973, Loe was cast as Alice Lee in the five-episode Television series Woodstock. In 1975 she appeared in the role of Princess May in the ATV drama series Edward the Seventh.^[5] Loe made guest appearances in comedies such as Ripping Yarns, Robin's Nest, The Upchat Line and Miss Jones and Son. In 1978, she appeared in an episode of the television drama Crown Court before landing the role of Dr Helen Sanders in the final two series of the television drama General Hospital playing the role from 1978 until 1979.^[5]

In 1980, Loe appeared in one episode each of Heartland and The Gentle Touch before appearing in two episodes of Sunday Night Thriller and three episodes of When the Boat Comes In (1981). She starred alongside Donald Churchill in the ITV sitcom Goodnight and God Bless, and made a brief appearance as a nurse in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983). In 1984, Loe starred as the abandoned housewife Allison in the six-part BBC1 serial Missing from Home by Roger Marshall and directed by Douglas Camfield. Loe made guest appearances in drama programmes up to 1985 before landing the role of Diane in the television programme Yesterday's Dreams in 1987. In 1988, Loe gained the role of Pamela in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Singles with Roger Rees; this was the first sitcom Loe starred in and which lasted three series until 1991. In 1990, she took a regular role in The Chief, playing Dr Elizabeth Stafford from 1990 to 1993.

In 1997, she played Adele Cecil in Death Is Now My Neighbour, an episode of Inspector Morse,^[5] reprising her role the following year in The Wench is Dead.

In 1998 she played Commander Kathryn MacTiernan in Space Island One.^[5]

Between 2001 and 2002, she played Jan Goddard in Casualty and its spin off Holby City from 2002 to 2003. In 2009 Loe appeared in the medical drama Doctors.^[5]

Personal life

Judy Loe has been married twice: first to Richard Beckinsale, from 1977 until his death in 1979. Their daughter, actress Kate Beckinsale, was born in 1973. Loe married TV director Roy Battersby on 6 March 1997, her 50th birthday.^[6]

Television roles