Barbara Knox | |
---|---|
Born | Barbara Brothwood 30 September 1933 Oldham, England |
Spouse | Denis Mullaney (1954–77) John Knox (1977–94) |
Barbara Knox, MBE (née Brothwood, formerly Mullaney; born 30 September 1933), is an English actress, best known for playing Rita Sullivan in the television soap opera Coronation Street.
Contents |
Early life
Knox was born in Oldham, Lancashire. Her mother worked in a mill while her father was a moulder at Platt's Foundry, and later a fireman.
Pre-acting career
Knox left school at 15 and worked as a telegraphist in the Post Office, learning shorthand, typing and had to pass Civil Service exams. She also worked in offices, shops and a factory. During this time she took part in amateur theatre until Carl Paulson, who ran Oldham Rep, asked her to appear in The Boyfriend, which was her professional stage debut. But she wasn't paid a penny for some considerable time during her 12-year spell there learning her craft.[citation needed]
Acting career
Knox later appeared in television programmes such as Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width, George and the Dragon and A Family at War, as well as doing a stint in Emergency – Ward 10. She also had a small role as a dancer in the 1969 musical remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips and did anything needed from announcer to stooge alongside several of the UK's top comedians for BBC radio's Comedy Half Hour.
She first played the role of Rita on Coronation Street in December 1964, when she appeared for only one episode. She returned in 1972 as Rita Bates, the common-law wife of Harry Bates, and in the decades since then the character has been married twice, to Len Fairclough and Ted Sullivan. She is currently known as Rita Sullivan.
Knox, like her co-star Eileen Derbyshire who plays Emily Bishop, shuns publicity and is a very private actress, although she has given a few interviews for Coronation Street documentaries and has appeared at some television awards shows. In November 2010 she gave a rare interview on Paul O'Grady Live on ITV1, and then in the next month appeared in a number of shows related to Coronation Street's 50th Anniversary. In 1973, Knox cut an LP for Philips Records, and in 1989 she won the TV Times award for best actress following her involvement in the dramatic Alan Bradley storyline. In 1989 she won the Oracle Teletext Best Actress award for her part in the Alan Bradley storyline. In 1992 she did a one-woman show at the Barbican Theatre in London.
She won the "Best On-Screen Partnership" award (jointly with Malcolm Hebden) at the British Soap Awards in May 2006 for her role as Rita Sullivan and in 2004 she won the Life Time Achievement Award for her services to Soap.
Knox was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.[1]
Knox, as character Rita Sullivan, has been involved in Coronation Street's 50th anniversary week, where she was trapped for some time under the debris of the Kabin following the tram crash. She survived and was taken to hospital with Emily who went with her to keep her company.
Personal life
Knox has three children from two different marriages John (born 1957), Amanda (born 1962) and Maxine (born 1970).
Barbara rarely gives TV interviews but did in November 2010 on Paul O' Grady live. She said that her hobbies are gardening & tapestry.
References
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59446. p. 18. 12 June 2010.