Sally Grace, the English actress and voice artist whose remarkable vocal range made her a fixture of British radio, television, and animation for decades, died in March 2026 at the age of 74. Hailed by one critic as the best impressionist in the business, she was a performer whose voice was familiar to millions even when her face was not.
Born in Harrogate, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, on 10 September 1951, Grace trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She went on to build a career defined by versatility, one in which she could disappear entirely into a character through voice alone.
That gift found its sharpest expression in satire. Grace was a member of the team on “Week Ending,” BBC Radio 4’s topical sketch show, where from 1983 she became the voice of Margaret Thatcher, a role she carried until the series ended in 1998. Her work alongside Ken Bruce on Radio 2’s “What If Show” prompted The Independent on Sunday to crown her the finest impressionist working, and she later voiced the Queen in Alistair McGowan’s sketches about the royal family.
To a generation of viewers, however, Grace was the voice of childhood. She brought to life several beloved characters in the popular animated series “The Animals of Farthing Wood,” among them the pompous Owl, the loud Weasel, and the demure but strong-willed Charmer. Her extensive animation work also included “Noah’s Island,” “Mr. Bean: The Animated Series,” “Dennis the Menace,” “Pongwiffy,” and the charming short “Bob’s Birthday,” along with many others.
Her radio drama work was equally distinguished. She voiced Elena in BBC Radio 4’s adaptations of Douglas Adams’s “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” and “The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul,” productions that have remained favourites among fans of the genre.
Grace was a working actress on screen as well. Her television credits spanned “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?,” “Sorry!,” “Raffles,” “The Ruth Rendell Mysteries,” and “Oh, Doctor Beeching!,” and she appeared in episodes of “Coronation Street.” On stage, she took on the role of Betty Marsden in a touring adaptation of “Round the Horne,” and her film appearances included “Ghost Story” in 1974 and “Boston Kickout” in 1995.
News of her death was shared by the radio producer Dirk Maggs, who remembered her as a brilliant actress and voice artist, a sentiment echoed widely across the industry. Sally Grace possessed one of those rare talents that worked quietly behind countless characters, lending them life, warmth, and wit. She will be remembered by colleagues and audiences alike as a consummate performer whose voice, in all its many guises, became part of the fabric of British broadcasting.