Anne Kirkbride was born on June 21, 1954 in Oldham, Lancashire, England. She was an actress, known for Coronation Street (1960), Comic Relief: Red Nose Night Live 05 (2005) and ITV Sunday Night Theatre (1969). She was married to David Beckett. She died on January 19, 2015 in Manchester, England.
Ken and Deirdre's Bedtime Stories, Coronation Street
Star Sign
Cancer
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Trademark
1
Husky Voice
2
Large glasses
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Quote
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[Kirkbride on not having children]: "I had vaguely thought about it over the years ad thought it might happen, but it just never did. It's never been a huge problem. I don't think I've missed anything vital in my life. You see documentaries about women who are absolutely desperate to have a baby but I've never felt like that. I never had that overwhelming need that some women seem to have. I love babies and I adore kids. I've always had them in my life. When my nephews were babies I was very hands-on and I fed and bathed them. I loved it but I never really needed to do that myself."
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Fact
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Her Lifetime Achievement Award was presented posthumously to her husband David Beckett at The British Soap Awards 2015 (2015) by her Coronation Street (1960) co-stars William Roache and Beverley Callard. Roache's character Ken Barlow was Kirkbride's character Deirdre Barlow's husband, whilst Callard's character Liz McDonald was Deirdre's best friend on the show.
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Maternal granddaughter of Fred (1897-1976) and Annie Jane (née Booth) Kirkham (1899-1984).
In April 2015, the producers of Coronation Street (1960) announced that Kirkbride's character, Deirdre Barlow, will pass away in the series and be given an onscreen funeral. This occurred on the show in July 2015.
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She suffered from severe depression in 1998.
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Was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1993 and underwent chemotherapy; she was given the all-clear in 1998.
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Her first job upon leaving school in 1970 was as an assistant stage manager with the Oldham Repertory theatre.
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Had a younger brother, John Kirkbride (b. 1957).
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Daughter of cartoonist Jack Kirkbride (1923-2006), and his wife Enid (née Kirkham) (1926-1993).
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Her Coronation Street (1960) character, Deirdre Langton, became the fourth woman on the soap opera to give birth. Deirdre had a daughter, Tracy (played originally played by Christabel Finch, before Kate Ford took over the role), born on 24 January 1977.
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In her spare time, she was a keen painter. It was rumored in 2009 that she was considering quitting Coronation Street (1960) in order to pursue a career in it, but this was not the case.
15
Although she was known for the exceptionally large glasses which she wore as Deirdre in Coronation Street (1960) since 1973, in real life, she actually wore contact lenses.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Coronation Street
1972-2014
TV Series
Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Rachid
Deirdre Langton
...
Wetty Hainthropp Investigates
1999
TV Short
Deirdre Rachid (uncredited)
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
1972
TV Series
Player's Girlfriend
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Coronation Street
2015
TV Series in loving memory of - 1 episode
Deirdre & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street
2012
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Deidre and Me: A Tribute
2015
TV Movie documentary
Deirdre & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street
2012
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Deirdre Hunt
Langton
...
TV's Biggest Blockbusters
2012
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Corrie Years
2011
TV Series documentary
Herself
Farewell Liz
2011
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street: 50 Years, 50 Moments
2010
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Goodbye Blanche
2010
TV Movie documentary
Herself
ITV Lunchtime News
2010
TV Series
Herself / Deirdre Barlow
All Star Mr & Mrs
2009
TV Series
Herself
The British Soap Awards 2009
2009
TV Special
Herself
Peter Kay: Raider of the Pop Charts
2009
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Corrie in the Dock
2007
TV Movie documentary
Herself
You Don't Know You're Born
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself
TV's 50 Greatest Stars
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
This Morning
2004-2006
TV Series
Herself
Farewell Mike
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Wakey Wakey Campers!
2005
TV Series
Herself
When Ken Met Deirdre
2005
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Paul O'Grady Show
2005
TV Series
Herself
Comic Relief 2005: Is This the Way to Amarillo
2005
Video short
Herself
Comic Relief: Red Nose Night Live 05
2005
TV Special
Deirdre Rachid
The Kids from Coronation Street
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street: The Barlow Family Album
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street: Secrets
2003-2004
TV Series documentary
Herself
Coronation Street Special: When Karen Met Steve
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street Special: Tracy Barlow Exposed
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street's Christmas Crackers
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Coronation Street's Greatest Love Triangles
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Songs of Praise
2001-2002
TV Series
Herself - Presenter
So Graham Norton
2002
TV Series
Herself
Deirdre & Me
2001
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Mike Baldwin & Me
2001
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Ken and Me
2001
TV Movie documentary
Herself
40 Years on Coronation Street
2000
TV Special
Herself
This Is Your Life
1976-1998
TV Series documentary
Herself
Happy Birthday, Coronation Street!
1990
TV Movie
Herself - Audience Member
Live from Coronation Street
1990
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra: A Tribute to Jean Alexander
2016
TV Movie
Deirdre Barlow
ITV News
2015
TV Series
Deirdre Barlow
Who Do You Think You Are?
2012
TV Series documentary
Deidre Barlow
The Stars of the Street: 50 Years, 50 Classic Characters