Phyllida Law, a veteran British actress whose career stretched across eight decades and included acclaimed performances on stage and screen, has died at the age of 94. Her death was announced by the BBC.

Law was born in Glasgow in 1932 and attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Initially intending to study stage design, she transitioned to acting. She married fellow actor Eric Thompson, known for his work on "The Magic Roundabout," in 1957. He died in 1982.

Throughout her career, Law amassed a diverse body of work, appearing in numerous television shows such as "Dickson of Dock Green," "Rumpole of the Bailey," "Midsomer Murders," "Foyle's War," "Doc Martin," and "New Tricks." Her film credits include "Anna Karenina," "Saving Grace," and "Miss Potter."

On stage, Law shared the West End boards with notable actors. She appeared alongside Alec Guinness in John Mortimer's "A Voyage Round My Father" in 1971 and in Alan Bennett's "Habeas Corpus" at the Oxford Playhouse in 1973, a production that later transferred to London. In 1986, she played Jacqueline in the original London cast of "La Cage Aux Folles" at the London Palladium.

Law also collaborated with John Hurt on the short film "Love at First Sight," which received an Oscar nomination in 2012. In recognition of her contributions to drama and charitable causes, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014.

Law's daughters, Emma and Sophie Thompson, are both successful actresses. Emma Thompson is a two-time Oscar winner, recognized for her acting in "Howard's End" and for writing the screenplay for "Sense and Sensibility." She is also known for roles in "Love Actually" and the "Harry Potter" film series. Sophie Thompson has appeared in films such as "Gosford Park" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and has received seven Olivier Award nominations for her stage work.

Law appeared in films with both her daughters, including the 1996 film titled "Emma." Reflecting on her daughters' success in a 2017 interview with The Telegraph, Law remarked, "They didn't follow in our footsteps, they rushed past us, trampling on us." The family's artistic legacy continues with Emma Thompson's daughter, Gaia, who paid tribute to her grandmother on Instagram, writing, "Rest well my queen."

Law often expressed her passion for the arts, humorously stating in an interview that she wished for her funeral to be in the afternoon so that attendees could attend a theatre performance afterward.