Judy Loe

Judith Margaret Loe (born 6 March 1947) is an English actress. She was married to actor Richard Beckinsale until his death in 1979, and later married director Roy Battersby. 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. She attended Urmston Grammar School and the University of Birmingham, where she graduated with a BA degree in English and Drama. Television Loe was in the original British cast of the rock musical Hair. 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. 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. 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.