Anne Kirkbride (21 June 1954 – 19 January 2015) was an English actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street, which she played for over 40 years from 1972 to 2014.

Spouse - David Beckett (m. 1992–2015; her death)

Career

Coronation Street

Kirkbride was noticed by casting directors for the British soap opera Coronation Street when she acted in a Jack Rosenthal play, Another Sunday and Sweet F.A. (1972), for Granada Television. She played the bit part of Deirdre Hunt in Coronation Street from November 1972. The character's role grew and after further appearances in 1973, Kirkbride signed a contract with the serial in 1974. From then on, the character of Deirdre Barlow become famous for her very large spectacles and her husky voice (a result of Kirkbride's own chain smoking).

On 29 September 2014, it was announced Kirkbride would have a three-month break from the show.

Other television appearances

In 1998 Kirkbride ran away on This Is Your Life during the same time she was battling severe depression. In 2013, Kirkbride completed a documentary entitled Deirdre & Me.This was a 60-minute special to celebrate her 40th year of playing Deirdre.

In 2007, Kirkbride starred in the first episode of ITV1's You Don't Know You're Born.

Personal life

Kirkbride was born in Oldham, Lancashire. She is the daughter of Jack Kirkbride, former cartoonist for the Oldham Evening Chronicle.

In 1993, Kirkbride was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She spoke to the British press about her bout of depression following the diagnosis. She was cured within a year of being diagnosed.

She married former actor David Beckett in 1992. They met on the set of Coronation Street, when Beckett joined the cast as her character Deirdre's on-screen boyfriend.

Death

After a short illness, Kirkbride died in a Manchester hospital on 19 January 2015, aged 60.