Anne Kirkbride, the Coronation Street actress who played Deirdre Barlow for 43 years, died on January 19, 2015, at a Manchester hospital after a secret battle with breast cancer that had metastasised to her brain. She had refused chemotherapy because it was making her too sick.
Early life and career
Born in Oldham in 1954, Anne was the daughter of English cartoonist Jack Kirkbride. She joined Oldham Repertory Theatre as an assistant stage manager before moving into acting roles. Coronation Street casting directors discovered her at age 17 after a Jack Rosenthal play called Another Sunday and Sweet F.A.
Anne landed the role of Deirdre Hunt (later Langton, Rachid, and Barlow) in 1972. She was initially supposed to appear in only one episode with three lines. Over 43 years, she became one of the show's longest-serving actors and most beloved characters.
Personal life and illness
Anne was uncomfortable with fame and press attention. She once said: "I'm not very good at being a star, I don't handle it very well. I'm really a quiet, private person." In a rare interview with The Guardian, she explained: "I just enjoy having something to do that's good, something that's interesting and gives me a lot of scope. I wouldn't be here if I wanted to perform Shakespeare. I never really wanted to be an actress. This is a nine-to-five job. This is how I earn my money. The thought of this show coming off or me losing my job fills me with terror."
Anne's first cancer diagnosis was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1993, after she found a lump on her neck on the day of her mother's funeral. The cancer was treatable, and she returned to the soap within the year after getting the all-clear, having lost most of her hair from chemotherapy and returning to set with a wig.
Anne was later diagnosed with clinical depression, which afflicted her for years. She shared: "It [depression] was worse than the cancer in a way, because that was going to be over. I knew that was bad, but I knew at the end of it I was going to be better. But this, this was just so frightening." In her 2012 documentary, Deirdre & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street, she said: "I'm too sensitive, everything hits me too hard and affects me too much. I realised that all my life I'd probably suffered from a very mild form of depression."
Tragic death and tributes
Anne's funeral was held on January 27 in a private ceremony, attended by Coronation Street co-stars William Roache, Beverley Callard, Kate Ford, and Johnny Briggs. She is survived by her husband and fellow Corrie co-star David Beckett, whom she met on set in 1990 when he played her boyfriend, handyman Dave. She posthumously received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 British Soap Awards.
Coronation Street executive producer Kieran Roberts said: "There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing. We know only too acutely how much Anne meant to the millions of people who watched her create the legendary character of Deirdre Barlow. She will be greatly missed by the Coronation Street team who share happy memories of working with her. We feel blessed and honoured to have known her. Our thoughts are with David and their family."
Her onscreen husband Bill Roache said: "I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years. She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama. We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed."
Kate Ford, who played Deirdre's daughter Tracy, said: "From my first day at Coronation Street Annie welcomed me with open arms... She had the biggest warmest heart and a startling and refreshing openness and there was never any pretence with her, she was just Annie. She was unique. Annie was always there for me and was a shoulder in my life whenever things were tough… I loved her so much. I will miss her every day."
Sue Nicholls, who played Audrey Roberts, added: "Anne Kirkbride achieved her mission. She brought so much joy and happiness to millions of people. She was a brilliant actress. She not only knew her lines, she knew your lines and she knew what the crew needed to make the day work. She was absolutely sensational."
