Norbert Smith – a Life

Norbert Smith – a Life is a spoof TV documentary about the fictional British actor Sir Norbert Smith, played by Harry Enfield. Written by Enfield and Geoffrey Perkins and directed by Geoff Posner, it was made by Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4 and first aired on 3 November 1989.

Styled like an episode of The South Bank Show, it features Melvyn Bragg playing himself as he interviews Sir Norbert at home. The comedy comes from the gap between Norbert’s reputation as a great “Knight of the Theatre” and the poor opinions of his peers, his weak film career, and his confused memories in old age.

The film also parodies 20th-century cinema through clips showing Enfield as Norbert in different movie roles.