Hal Erickson writes in AllMovie, "Vanda Godsell specialised in playing disheveled housewives, busybody landladies and blowsy domestics.

"[1] Nancy Evelyn Godsell was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on 17 November 1922,[2] as the youngest child to Reginald Godsell (1890–1941),[3][4] a retired Royal Navy Commander, who served in the Battle of Jutland,[5][6] and his wife,[7] Muriel Wilfreda Rachel Ellington (née Abbott or Jacob; 1887–1971),[8][9] an author, who was the sister of Naomi Jacob, a novelist.

[20][21] Godsell retired on 5 September 1983, following her role as Woman in the debut episode of the ITV television series Reilly, Ace of Spies.

[citation needed] Godsell married her second husband, Alan Joseph Orchard (born 4 December 1924),[26] in Hampstead, London in January 1964.

[32] The inquest into Godsell's death was held at Hammersmith Crown Court in early November 1990,[29] and heard from her sister-in-law, Frances Atcheson, that she had been prone to drinking heavily.