Coronation Street legend Amanda Barrie has revealed she feared her career would be destroyed after coming out as bisexual in 2002 at the age of 67. She told Good Morning Britain that she anticipated a brutal backlash, including being 'stoned in the street' and barred from Tescos, but instead received a hug.
Coming Out at 67
Barrie publicly disclosed her sexuality in her autobiography It's Not A Rehearsal in 2002. She explained that she delayed coming out because she believed it would end her career. 'It wouldn't have been someone 'Oh she's... I'm going to sack her.' It would have been people saying 'I don't want to work with her.' It would have happened,' she said.
Career Highlights
Barrie began her acting career in 1954 with Running Wild. She later starred in two Carry On films, most notably Carry On Cleo as Cleopatra. She played Alma Baldwin on Coronation Street from 1988 to 2001, coming out just one year after leaving the soap.
Personal Life and Marriage
Barrie was married to theatre director Robin Hunter from 1967, though they separated in the mid-1980s without divorcing. In 2014, after same-sex marriage was legalised in the UK, she married her long-term partner Hilary Bonner. Barrie said she came out because keeping it secret felt 'dishonest' and like 'cheating in some way'.
Reaction and Industry Changes
When asked if anything negative happened after coming out, Barrie replied: 'Nothing. I got a hug rather than a stone in the street.' She reflected on how the industry has evolved, noting that 'the world has changed' and that films like Carry On and shows like Coronation Street have also changed over time.
