Elizabeth Mary Driver Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Driver, MBE (20 May 1920 – 15 October 2011) was an English singer, actress and author, best known for her role as Betty Williams (previously Betty Turpin) on the British soap opera, Coronation Street from 1969-2011, appearing in more than 2,800 episodes. She had previously appeared as Mrs Edgley in Coronation Street spin-off Pardon the Expression (1965-1966) opposite Arthur Lowe. Her film roles included Boots! Boots! in 1934, opposite George Formby and Penny Paradise in 1938, directed by Carol Reed. She was made an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours.
The British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement
Movies
Penny Paradise
TV Shows
Pardon the Expression, Coronation Street
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
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Naturalistic acting style.
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Characters called Betty.
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Quote
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On being honoured with an M.B.E. in the 2000 Queen's Millennium Honours List: "I am thrilled beyond all means, it is wonderful, I am really excited and nervous at the same time."
Separated from her husband in 1960 but they did not divorce until 1969.
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Altrincham, Cheshire, England [July 2008]
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Auditioned for the part of Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street (1960) in 1964; making it down to the final two she lost out to later long-time co-star Jean Alexander.
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Became a huge name during World War II via Henry Hall's popular BBC Radio show, touring Europe - in a Captain's uniform - with him to entertain troops. She claimed the greatest achievement of her life was successfully engaging depressed UK soldiers in song at a German delousing camp.
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Celebrated her 18th birthday on the set of Penny Paradise (1938), where she found her dressing room had been filled to the roof with flowers by the crew.
Her Coronation Street (1960) co-stars Bill Kenwright, who played her character Betty Williams' son Gordon, and Helen Worth, whom she regarded as the daughter she never had, delivered touching eulogies at her funeral.
Became pregnant during her marriage to Wally Peterson, but suffered a miscarriage. Following this, she was diagnosed with fibroids in the womb and underwent a hysterectomy.
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Holds the record for playing the longest-serving soap character to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, having won the award at The British Soap Awards in 2010 for 41 years of playing Betty Williams on Coronation Street (1960). In total she appeared in the part from June 1969 to May 2011.
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Had practically given up show-business to run a pub in Whaley Bridge, near Manchester, with her father and sister when H.V. Kershaw asked her to join the cast of Coronation Street (1960) in 1969. As Betty Turpin/Williams, her character's trademark "Betty's Hotpot" dish would become a fixture of the Rovers Return menu and a legendary feature of the soap.
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Badly injured her spine and hip during the making of the Granada sitcom Pardon the Expression (1965), requiring osteopathic treatment.
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As a young singer she was often likened to Gracie Fields, partly due to her being signed up with the agent sister of Fields' husband Archie Pitt when she was only 14. Despite this, the two only actually first met in the 1960s.
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Was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 2010 British Soap Awards.
Older sister of Freda Driver (1922-2008), whom she lived with in Cheshire, England until her death.
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She was awarded a MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty, 'Queen Elizabeth II' in the 2000 Millenium Queen's New Year's Honours List for her services to entertainment.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Coronation Street
1969-2011
TV Series
Betty Turpin
Betty Williams
Women of Coronation Street
1998
Video
Betty Williams
Annie & Betty's Coronation Street Memories
1975
TV Movie
Betty Turpin
ITV Play of the Week
1967
TV Series
Mrs. Bull
Pardon the Expression
1965-1966
TV Series
Mrs. Edgeley
The Hon Mrs Wentworth Brewster
Theatre Night
1961
TV Series
Blackpool Show Parade
1960
TV Series
Emney Enterprises
1957
TV Series
Television Christmas Party
1952
TV Movie
Facing the Music
1941
Mary Matthews
Let's Be Famous
1939
Betty
Penny Paradise
1938
Betty Higgins
Boots! Boots!
1934
Betty
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Let's Be Famous
1939
performer: "I Ran Into Love", "The Moon Remembered But You Forgot", "I've Got A Hunch", "Whistle When You Want Me", "The Gospel Of Love" - uncredited
Penny Paradise
1938
performer: "Stick Out Your Chin", "You Can't Have Your Cake", "Learn How To Sing a Love Song" - uncredited
$300,000
