Frances Barber, known for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and roles alongside Dustin Hoffman and Christian Slater, says joining Coronation Street as Celeste, the estranged aunt of Bernie Winter-Alahan, is the highlight of her career. She admits to being 'gobsmacked' into silence when she met Corrie legend Barbara Knox.
A lifelong ambition
Barber, 68, has wanted to walk the cobbles for 40 years. Growing up on a council estate in Wolverhampton, she felt a deep connection to the show's characters. 'I'm a complete and utter fanatic,' she says. 'I grew up on it. I know Wolverhampton isn't Weatherfield, but it's not that dissimilar.'
She recalls her time as a Saturday girl in Marks & Spencer, where shoppers reminded her of Corrie women: 'strong, blunt, down-to-earth and very funny.' This dream role is 'absolutely one of my career highlights.'
Meeting Barbara Knox
Despite her extensive career, Barber was nervous meeting Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Tanner. 'I passed Barbara Knox and my heart skipped a beat. I was literally gobsmacked. I didn't speak to her, I don't think anything would have come out of my mouth actually.'
She took photos of the dressing rooms and sent pictures of herself pretending to pull a pint in the Rovers Return to everyone she knows, driving her friends mad with excitement.
Celeste's arrival
Celeste arrives on August 19, looking for her niece Bernie. Discovering she's away, she visits the undertakers and starts organizing a Dolly Parton-themed funeral for a 'friend.' Eventually, she tells Todd Grimshaw that the funeral is her own, as she has cancer and only six weeks to live.
Barber describes Celeste as 'straightforward, witty and clever,' resembling the women she grew up with, like Elsie Tanner. She's a Dolly Parton fan, dressed in cow print and cowboy outfits, even singing a bit of Parton. 'It was the gift of a part for any actress my age.'
There's a family fall-out involving Celeste and her twin sister, Bernie's mum, so Bernie gives no hero's welcome. However, the Corrie cast was welcoming, taking Barber to Pizza Express.
Career highlights
Barber's career includes Olivier award nominations for Camille and Uncle Vanya, films like Mike Leigh's Home Sweet Home and Prick Up Your Ears, and TV credits including Doctor Who and Cold Feet. She filmed in Italy with Dustin Hoffman for Medici and appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Christian Slater.
She praises both actors as 'the humblest, most professional people you could ever work with.'
Lows and highs
Barber has faced disappointments, like losing the role in Camille to Kathleen Turner. Moving to Hollywood, she felt pressure to lose weight, shedding two stone. A visit from Sir Ian McKellen made her realize it was time to return home.
She also recounts a serious accident in 2007 when she was knocked off her bike and broke her cruciate ligament. Ian McKellen helped her recover, and she later fell off a horse filming The Spa, ending up in a wheelchair again.
Now in a relationship with someone not in the business, she lives in Clerkenwell, London. After Corrie, she heads to Belgium to film Bookish. She's been sharing her Corrie tales with Sir Ian, who played Mel Hutchwright in 2005 and loves the show as much as she does.
Frances makes her Coronation Street debut on August 19. The show airs weekdays on ITV at 8:30 PM and ITVX at 7 AM.
