- Born
- Birth nameBarbara Brothwood
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Barbara was born in Oldham, Lancashire, and left school at fifteen for a job as a post office telegraph operator, then worked in offices, factories and shops. After some amateur acting, she joined Oldham Repertory and spent many years with them and touring companies, plus work on radio and television. After quite a bit of television, she joined Coronation Street in 1972, playing Rita Fairclough.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5
- SpousesJohn Knox(1977 - 1994) (divorced)Denis Mullaney(1956 - 1977) (divorced, 3 children)
- When the UK Sun newspaper presented her with a surprise birthday cake to mark the occasion of her 60th birthday, Barbara was finally forced to concede her true age, having previously pretended to be some 5 years younger.
- Recipient of the TV Times award for best television actress.
- She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
- Is one of ten Coronation Street (1960) actors to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. The others are William Roache, Johnny Briggs, Elizabeth Dawn, Betty Driver, William Tarmey, Helen Worth, Anne Kirkbride, Sue Nicholls and David Neilson.
- Made a one-episode appearance as Rita in Coronation Street (1960) in 1964, in which she was seen in a friendship with Philip Lowrie's character Dennis Tanner. In 2012, a year after he had returned to the show, the two characters rekindled this bond and got married.
- [on being awarded the MBE in June 2010:] It was a wonderful honor.
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