Anne Reid

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Anne Reid on IMDb

Born

Tuesday 28th May 1935 (89 years-old)

Nationality

English

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Reid was educated at John Emmerson Batty primary school, the White House School, and Penrhos College in North Wales. From here she would move on to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, based in London, shortly thereafter becoming a stage manager working in repertory theatre.

Reid's comedy career began in earnest with several appearances on the television programmes The Benny Hill Show and Hancock's Half Hour, roles which would lead to her first big breakthrough: playing the character Valerie Tatlock (later Barlow) on the soap Coronation Street. When her character was written out of the show (on Reid's request), electrocuted by a hairdryer with a faulty plug, on 3 February 1971 no fewer than 18.92 million British people watched the funeral episode.

Following this stint on Coronation Street, Reid took a short break from acting to raise her son, during which time she made occasional appearances on TV such as Crown Court. Upon her return to frontline acting in the early 1990s, she acted in an episode of A Bit Of Fry & Laurie and began a fruitful performing bond with Victoria Wood], featuring on several of her projects including As Seen On Tv, the series Victoria Wood in 1989, Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast, and Pat And Margaret. From 1998 to 2000, Reid played the major role of Jean in BBC comedy series dinnerladies, written by and starring Victoria Wood, and would act in several other television programmes including Hetty Wainthrop Investigates and Casualty.

In 2003 she was awarded the London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year for the drama film The Mother.

From 2007 to 2010 Reid appeared in all three series BBC Radio 4 sitcom Fabulous, about a woman who wants, but fails, to lead a glamorous lifestyle. Both before and after Victoria Wood's death in 2016, Reid appeared in several documentaries and overviews of her life and work, including Victoria Wood: Seen On TV in 2009, and Let's DO It: A Tribute To Victoria Wood.

In 2012 Reid played the role of Celia in the warm-hearted BBC romantic comedy drama Last Tango In Halifax, about two would-be childhood sweethearts who are reunited after 60 years. In 2013 she was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for her role in this series. In 2018 and 2019 Reid starred alongside Alison Steadman and John Cleese in the BBC comedy series Hold The Sunset.

Reid is also an accomplished stage actor, appearing in several plays at the National Theatre and the Old Vic, amongst several others. She is also known for her appearances in classic British comedy films, such as the Aardman production A Close Shave, Cemetery Junction, and Hot Fuzz. She also played a lesbian headteacher in Richard Curtis' 2003 smash-hit Love Actually, but the scenes were eventually cut and she is not credited in the cast list. The scenes can, however, be viewed in the deleted scenes on the DVD of the film.

National Television Awards, The 2021

Actor (Longlisted)

Satellite Awards 2014

Best Actress in a Drama Series (Nominee)

BAFTA Television Awards 2013

Best Leading Actress (Nominee)

RTS North West Awards 2013

Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Female) (Winner)

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