Pik-Sen Lim obit

Penang-born actress Pik-Sen Lim, known for roles in ‘Mind Your Language’, ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Johnny English Reborn’, dies at 80

 She was not on the list.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Penang-born British actress Pik-Sen Lim, best known for her role in the sitcom Mind Your Language, has died on Monday at the age of 80.

Lim gained international recognition and became a familiar face on British and Malaysian television for her role as Chung Su-Lee in Mind Your Language, a popular British comedy that aired in the late 1970s.

Born in Penang in 1944, Lim’s birth name was romanised as Lim Phaik-Seng, but she later changed her given name to Pik-Sen after noticing that her British friends frequently mispronounced “Phaik” as “fake.”

She starred in Doctor Who, playing Chin Lee in The Mind of Evil (1971), and appeared in British series such as military drama Spearhead, Coronation Street, Casualty, Holby City and The Bill.

Her film credits include Johnny English Reborn (2011), in which she played the Killer Cleaner.

More recently, she was the narrator in the Dark Souls video game series and appeared in American TV series Vampire Academy (2022) and The Nevers (2023) .

The British Film Institute described Lim as "the most recognisable Chinese actor on British television throughout the 1970s and 80s."

She was fondly remembered by fellow actor Daniel Y Loh in a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.

“I acted on stage in two plays with her as well as numerous readings, workshops, audio etc as well,” Loh wrote.

“A joyous person, full of love and laughter and mischief, she was so much fun to be around and her gift for comedy was such that you always felt safe in front of an audience with her, that absolutely unique voice and vivacious energy carrying us all with her.”

Loh recalled their time working together on several productions, including Citizens of Nowhere?, which they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the summer before the Covid-19 pandemic.

They also shared the stage in a production of Romeo & Juliet, where he played Mercutio opposite Lim’s Nurse.

Actress

The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess (2024)

The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess

8.0

Short

Narrator

2024

 

Olivia Williams, Eleanor Tomlinson, Laura Donnelly, Rochelle Neil, Zackary Momoh, and Ann Skelly in The Nevers (2021)

The Nevers

7.4

TV Series

Madame Tam

2023

1 episode

 

Sisi Stringer and Daniela Nieves in Vampire Academy (2022)

Vampire Academy

6.4

TV Series

The Queen (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2022

9 episodes

 

Paul Sng in Go Back Home! (2022)

Go Back Home!

Short

British East Asian person

2022

 

I Am a Unicorn (2021)

I Am a Unicorn

7.7

Short

Cynthia

2021

 

This Way Up (2019)

This Way Up

7.8

TV Series

Chien (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2019–2021

6 episodes

 

British People (2020)

British People

Short

Linda

2020

 

Michelle Pfeiffer, Angelina Jolie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elle Fanning, Ed Skrein, and Harris Dickinson in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

6.6

Tundra Spiritual Fey (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2019

 

UNIT: The New Series (2015)

UNIT: The New Series

6.9

Podcast Series

Doctor Chin Lee (voice)

2018

1 episode

 

Jenny - The Doctor's Daughter (2018)

Jenny - The Doctor's Daughter

5.6

Podcast Series

Old Woman (voice)

2018

1 episode

 

Luo Bao Bei (2017)

Luo Bao Bei

7.6

TV Series

Grandma

2017–2018

26 episodes

 

Dark Souls: Remastered (2018)

Dark Souls: Remastered

8.8

Video Game

Narrator (voice)

2018

 

Pik Sen Lim in The Crack (2018)

The Crack

Short

Filmdeveloper

2018

 

Dim Sum (2018)

Dim Sum

Short

Nai Nai Chen

2018

 

Level Up Norge (2016)

Level Up Norge

8.5

TV Series

Narrator for Dark Souls (voice, uncredited)

2018

1 episode

 

Blood Drive (2017)

Blood Drive

7.2

TV Series

Pearl (as Pek-Sen Lim)

2017

1 episode

 

50 Ways to Kill Your Lover (2014)

50 Ways to Kill Your Lover

7.3

TV Series

Suzanne

2016

1 episode

 

Dark Souls III (2016)

Dark Souls III

9.1

Video Game

Narrator (voice)

2016

 

The Sea, the God, the Man (2016)

The Sea, the God, the Man

Short

Grandmother

2016

 

Owen Phillips, Kanon Narumi, Charlie Geany, Zanele Nyoni, Raniah Morton, Emme Patrick, Moses Amedzro, and Michael Carpenter in The Dumping Ground (2013)

The Dumping Ground

6.8

TV Series

PoPo (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2015

1 episode

 

Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench in Roald Dahl's Esio Trot (2015)

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot

6.9

TV Movie

Mrs. Wu (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2015

 

Balsa Wood (2014)

Balsa Wood

6.9

Short

Bebing

2014

 

Annette Frier in Danni Lowinski (2010)

Danni Lowinski

6.7

TV Series

Frau Yingpeng

2014

1 episode

 

Guy Henry in Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Amy Cardle

2013

1 episode

 

Healthy (2012)

Healthy

9.1

Short

Mother

2012

 

Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss (2012)

Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss

9.0

Video Game

Narrator (voice)

2012

 

A Civil Arrangement

8.3

TV Movie

Madam Rene (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2012

 

Dark Souls (2011)

Dark Souls

9.1

Video Game

Narrator (voice)

2011

 

Rowan Atkinson in Johnny English Reborn (2011)

Johnny English Reborn

6.3

Killer Cleaner (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2011

 

Psychoville (2009)

Psychoville

7.9

TV Series

Old Japanese Lady (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2010

1 episode

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.1

TV Series

Reiko ReidSister Lena Cheung

1997–2010

2 episodes

 

Benedict Wong and Jessica Henwick in Spirit Warriors (2010)

Spirit Warriors

7.5

TV Series

Beggar Woman

2010

1 episode

 

Granny's Ghost (2008)

Granny's Ghost

8.6

Short

Granny

2008

 

Monkey Nut Tales (2007)

Monkey Nut Tales

5.9

Short

Grandma Wu

2007

 

Billie Piper and Julie Walters in The Ruby in the Smoke (2006)

The Ruby in the Smoke

6.6

TV Movie

Madame Sheng (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2006

 

Masterpiece (1971)

Masterpiece

8.6

TV Series

Madame Sheng (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2006

1 episode

 

The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Dora SimMrs. Han (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1994–2005

2 episodes

 

Matt Lucas and David Walliams in Little Britain (2003)

Little Britain

7.7

TV Series

Simone (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2004

2 episodes

 

Anna Chancellor and Hugh Laurie in Fortysomething (2003)

Fortysomething

7.5

TV Series

Chinese Waitress

2003

1 episode

 

Lysette Anthony, Stephanie Leonidas, Joe McGann, Kevin Sacre, Jai Wilson, and Keya Wilson in Night & Day (2001)

Night & Day

7.5

TV Series

Mrs. Mori

2003

5 episodes

 

Christina Ricci, John Hurt, and John Simm in Miranda (2002)

Miranda

5.4

Mrs. Wang (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2002

 

Bai Ling, Thomas Gibson, and Russell Wong in The Monkey King (2001)

The Monkey King

5.5

TV Mini Series

Granny Monkey (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2001

2 episodes

 

Arabian Nights (2000)

Arabian Nights

7.4

TV Mini Series

Aladdin's Mother (as Pik-Sen Lim)

2000

2 episodes

 

London's Burning (1988)

London's Burning

7.0

TV Series

Mrs. Lau

1998

1 episode

 

Cracker (1993)

Cracker

8.4

TV Series

Wei Wei

1996

1 episode

 

An Actor's Life for Me (1991)

An Actor's Life for Me

7.4

TV Series

Lin (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1991

1 episode

 

Christmas Tales

Podcast Series

Narrator (voice)

1990–1992

 

Blue Funnel

Short

Mrs. Lim

1990

 

Christmas Tales

Podcast Series

Narrator (voice)

1990

 

Tom Baker and Sue Johnston in Medics (1990)

Medics

6.7

TV Series

Sarah Chung (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1990

1 episode

 

Screen One (1985)

Screen One

6.8

TV Series

Sister (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1990

1 episode

 

A Fine Romance (1989)

A Fine Romance

8.5

TV Series

Yuki

1989

1 episode

 

John Benfield, Gaby Dellal, and Philip Sayer in Floodtide (1987)

Floodtide

7.5

TV Series

Mrs Lee (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1988

1 episode

 

Albion Market (1985)

Albion Market

5.3

TV Series

Ly Nhu Chan

1985–1986

12 episodes

 

Plenty (1985)

Plenty

6.0

Mme. Aung

1985

 

Rosy Clayton in Studio (1983)

Studio

TV Series

Pilwha

1983

1 episode

 

The Magnificent One

TV Movie

Mrs. Ho

1982

 

Spearhead (1978)

Spearhead

7.9

TV Series

Tsai Adams (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1978–1981

10 episodes

 

Blade on the Feather (1980)

Cream in My Coffee

7.2

TV Movie

Waitress - 1980 (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1980

 

Trevor Eve in Shoestring (1979)

Shoestring

7.5

TV Series

Phone Girl

1980

1 episode

 

Lewis Collins, Gordon Jackson, and Martin Shaw in The Professionals (1977)

The Professionals

8.0

TV Series

Chai Ling

1980

1 episode

 

Julie Dawn Cole in Angels (1975)

Angels

6.6

TV Series

Dr. Yeo

1979

1 episode

 

Barry Evans in Mind Your Language (1977)

Mind Your Language

8.7

TV Series

Chung Su-Lee (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1977–1979

27 episodes

 

The Pink Medicine Show (1978)

The Pink Medicine Show

7.7

TV Series

Doctor Ing (as Pik-sen Lim)

1978

1 episode

 

Plum's Plots and Plans (1977)

Plum's Plots and Plans

TV Series

Mrs. Chan (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1977

1 episode

 

Patrick Macnee, Gareth Hunt, and Joanna Lumley in The New Avengers (1976)

The New Avengers

7.2

TV Series

Sing (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1976

1 episode

 

Terry Scott and June Whitfield in Happy Ever After (1974)

Happy Ever After

6.9

TV Series

Nancy

1976

1 episode

 

General Hospital (1972)

General Hospital

7.4

TV Series

Rubia MosleyPrem. Unit Nurse

1972–1975

2 episodes

 

Googie Withers in Within These Walls (1974)

Within These Walls

7.7

TV Series

Sister LingMaternity Sister Ling

1974–1975

3 episodes

 

Jan Adair, Astrid Frank, Maureen Lipman, Leslie Phillips, and Madeline Smith in Casanova '73 (1973)

Casanova '73

6.4

TV Series

Henrys Oriental friend

1973

1 episode

 

Madame Sin (1972)

Madame Sin

5.7

Nikko (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1972

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Captain Chin Lee (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1971

3 episodes

 

The Flaxton Boys (1969)

The Flaxton Boys

7.8

TV Series

Su Ling (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1970

3 episodes

 

The Gladiators (1969)

The Gladiators

6.7

C-2

1969

 

Sorry I'm Single

TV Series

Suzy

1967

9 episodes

 

Emergency-Ward 10 (1957)

Emergency-Ward 10

6.2

TV Series

Nurse Kwei-Kim YenNurse Kwei Kim-Yen

1964–1967

92 episodes

 

Who Is Sylvia?

6.8

TV Series

1967

1 episode

 

Hugh and I (1962)

Hugh and I

6.6

TV Series

1967

1 episode

 

Das Mädchen aus dem Dschungel (1964)

Das Mädchen aus dem Dschungel

TV Mini Series

Amina (as Phaik Seng Lim)

1964

3 episodes

 

Self

The Military Mind (2013)

The Military Mind

7.4

Video

Self - Captain Chin Lee

2013

 

You and Me (1974)

You and Me

7.5

TV Series

Self - Presenter (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1980

1 episode

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.1

TV Series

Self - Storyteller (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1973–1974

4 episodes

 

Helen Atkinson Wood, Nell Campbell, Simon Hickson, Brian Travers, and Trevor Neal in Juke Box Jury (1959)

Juke Box Jury

7.6

TV Series

Self - Panellist (as Pik-Sen Lim)

1967

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

The U.N.I.T Family: Part Two

Video

Captain Chin Lee (archive footage)

2011

 

Hello Sailor!: Making the Sea Devils

7.2

Video

Captain Chin Lee (archive footage, uncredited)

2008