Anne Kirkbride
Encyclopedia
Anne Kirkbride is an English
actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow
in Coronation Street
which she has played for thirty-nine years.
Coronation Street
while she did a Jack Rosenthal
play for Granada called Another Sunday and Sweet FA (1972). She was offered to play the bit part
of Deirdre Hunt in November 1972. After a few appearances, the character's popularity grew and after further appearances in 1973, Kirkbride signed a contract with the serial
in 1974. Since then, Deirdre has become synonymous with a scratchy voice (caused by real-life chain smoking
) and very big spectacles.
during the same time she was battling severe depression. In 2001, Kirkbride completed a documentary entitled Deirdre & Me.This was a 60 minute special to celebrate her 30th year of playing Deirdre.
In 2007, Kirkbride starred in the first episode of ITV1
's You Don't Know You're Born
.
, former cartoonist for the Oldham Evening Chronicle
.
In 1993, Kirkbride was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since then, she has spoken to the British press about her bout of depression following the diagnosis. She was cured within a year of being diagnosed.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Anne Barlow is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV Granada soap opera, Coronation Street...
in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
which she has played for thirty-nine years.
Coronation Street
Kirkbride was noticed by casting directors for the British soap operaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
while she did a Jack Rosenthal
Jack Rosenthal
Jack Morris Rosenthal CBE was an English playwright, who wrote 129 early episodes of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street and over 150 screenplays, including original TV plays, feature films, and adaptations.-Biography:...
play for Granada called Another Sunday and Sweet FA (1972). She was offered to play the bit part
Bit part
A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
of Deirdre Hunt in November 1972. After a few appearances, the character's popularity grew and after further appearances in 1973, Kirkbride signed a contract with the serial
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
in 1974. Since then, Deirdre has become synonymous with a scratchy voice (caused by real-life chain smoking
Chain smoking
Chain smoking is the practice of lighting a new cigarette for personal consumption immediately after one that is finished, sometimes using the finished cigarette to light the next one. It is a common form of addiction.-Causes:...
) and very big spectacles.
Other television appearances
In 1998 Kirkbride appeared on This Is Your LifeThis Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
during the same time she was battling severe depression. In 2001, Kirkbride completed a documentary entitled Deirdre & Me.This was a 60 minute special to celebrate her 30th year of playing Deirdre.
In 2007, Kirkbride starred in the first episode of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's You Don't Know You're Born
You Don't Know You're Born
You Don't Know You're Born is a British television documentary series that aired on ITV in 2007. It features celebrities looking into their family tree.-Background:...
.
Personal life
Kirkbride is the daughter of Jack KirkbrideJack Kirkbride
Jack Kirkbride was an English cartoonist, and father to Anne Kirkbride, the actress who plays Deirdre Barlow in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street....
, former cartoonist for the Oldham Evening Chronicle
Oldham Evening Chronicle
The Oldham Evening Chronicle is a daily newspaper published each weekday evening. It is a local newspaper which serves the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England...
.
In 1993, Kirkbride was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since then, she has spoken to the British press about her bout of depression following the diagnosis. She was cured within a year of being diagnosed.
External links
- Anne Kirkbride at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- What's on TV profile