Anne Kirkbride plays Deirdre Barlow
Anne Kirkbride (born 21 June 1954 in Oldham, Lancashire) plays
Deirdre Barlow on Coronation Street.
Anne was noticed by casting directors for the British soap opera
Coronation Street while on a series called Another Sunday and Sweet
FA.
She was offered to play the bit part of 'Deirdre Hunt' in November
1972. After a few appearances, the character's popularity
grew.
After further appearances in 1973, Kirkbride signed a contract with
the serial in 1974. Since then, Deirdre has become synonymous with
a scratchy voice (caused by real-life chain smoking) and very big
eyeglasses.
In 1993, Kirkbride was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and
suffered from depression after the diagnosis. Luckily, she was
cured within a year of being diagnosed.
First appearance on Coronation Street in the UK:
20 November 1972: Deirdre was Jimmy Frazer's date on a
night out at The Vine, but she soon expressed interest in Alan
Howard.
