Patricia Routledge played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in London in 2001. (James Rogers/AAP PHOTOS)Patricia Routledge played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in London in 2001. (James Rogers/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAPBritish actor Patricia Routledge, best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at age 96. She was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, where her father was a high-class gents' outfitter where "keeping up appearances" was the name of the game. She read English at Liverpool University where she appeared in student shows, later making her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse.