Betty Driver Memorial Soapstar Superstar Thread

[Ra Ra Rasputin 99]

 

Well, she's free now. R.I.P. Dierdre.

 

 

 

Well, she's free now. R.I.P. Dierdre.

 

Sad news. Does anyone know what she died of (yet)? The newspapers are all saying "a short illness". My guess would be cancer, but...

[Sean 6,314]

brain tumour according to the mirror.

[Guest Guest]

it won't be a brain tumour then ...

[the_engineer 1,415]

brain tumour according to the mirror.

 

Your mirror talks to you aswell !! Thank god thought I was going mad for a minute there .

[Ra Ra Rasputin 99]

 

brain tumour according to the mirror.

 

Your mirror talks to you aswell !! Thank god thought I was going mad for a minute there .

 

Wikipedia is now saying brain cancer. Either way... I'm rather sad about this. Anne Kirkbride was truly someone I can say I grew up watching. I've probably had a few of her (1970s) hairdos too. R.I.P.

[Bibliogryphon 9,571]

 

Also Anne Kirkbride has been given three months leave from Coronation Street.

 

She ain't coming back

 

This is very annoying considering those of us who continually put faith in the Liz Dawn and Jean Alexander picks for Anne to come from nowhere.

 

Soapstars 1 Deathlisters 0

[Lard Bazaar 3,799]

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

[Phantom 2,533]

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

 

You're not alone on that one.

[Toast 16,132]

I wonder if the lymphoma came back and got her. It does sometimes retreat then lie in wait. My mum had it at the same time as "Deirdre", but was not so lucky.

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

Surprised she was not picked for the DDP. I also thought she was older than 60.

No she was 60, her neck was 84 Handy.

[themaninblack 2,112]

 

Surprised she was not picked for the DDP. I also thought she was older than 60.

 

No she was 60, her neck was 84 Handy.

Vocal chords 107. Smoking kills, kids...

[Deathray 2,940]

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

[Bibliogryphon 9,571]

 

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

 

I think it is right for Lardy to make this point at this time. She spent 42 years playing a character that was defined by the size of glasses she wore. It is for the tabloid press to carry out the griefporn but when someone goes we assess their work objectively. There have been some passing that have been marked by an outpouring of genuine affection on these pages which is probably worth a lot more than glorifying everyone that dies.

 

However there may be a lingering resentment for Anne that she managed to pass under the radar. Oddly enough someone in my work game played her as a wildcard and I then remembered that she had been given time off. "One to watch for next year" I thought........ Ha

[Lard Bazaar 3,799]

 

 

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

 

I think it is right for Lardy to make this point at this time. She spent 42 years playing a character that was defined by the size of glasses she wore. It is for the tabloid press to carry out the griefporn but when someone goes we assess their work objectively. There have been some passing that have been marked by an outpouring of genuine affection on these pages which is probably worth a lot more than glorifying everyone that dies.

 

However there may be a lingering resentment for Anne that she managed to pass under the radar. Oddly enough someone in my work game played her as a wildcard and I then remembered that she had been given time off. "One to watch for next year" I thought........ Ha

 

I suppose, being fair, I'm a bit biased because I fucking hate Coronation Street. But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years - they haven't given us a chance to form any other opinion other than their cheesy soap appearances. Of course there will always be the exception - June Brown has played Dot Cotton forever, and I think she's great, but the same applies, she's not done a huge amount outside of Eastenders for the past 30 years, thus depriving us of her wider talents.

[time 8,596]

 

 

 

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

 

I think it is right for Lardy to make this point at this time. She spent 42 years playing a character that was defined by the size of glasses she wore. It is for the tabloid press to carry out the griefporn but when someone goes we assess their work objectively. There have been some passing that have been marked by an outpouring of genuine affection on these pages which is probably worth a lot more than glorifying everyone that dies.

 

However there may be a lingering resentment for Anne that she managed to pass under the radar. Oddly enough someone in my work game played her as a wildcard and I then remembered that she had been given time off. "One to watch for next year" I thought........ Ha

 

I suppose, being fair, I'm a bit biased because I fucking hate Coronation Street. But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years - they haven't given us a chance to form any other opinion other than their cheesy soap appearances. Of course there will always be the exception - June Brown has played Dot Cotton forever, and I think she's great, but the same applies, she's not done a huge amount outside of Eastenders for the past 30 years, thus depriving us of her wider talents.

 

June Brown has played other roles concurrently with her stint as Dot Cotton, whereas Anne Kirkbride's only other IMDB-listed credits are a comic relief appearance as Deirdre and a Hetty Wainthrop investigates appearance also as Deirdre. Plus what I assume is a bit part in a play. FWIW I also think she was a pretty poor actress - especially evident when she was required to display 'emotion'.

[Toast 16,132]

I'm kicking myself for not picking her. Can't think why I didn't jot her name down on my list of possibles when we were told she was taking a break, because I had a feeling that the lymphoma might have come back. Not that we know that it did, and it seems they're not telling. Anyway I forgot about it.

[Deathray 2,940]

I'm kicking myself for not picking her. Can't think why I didn't jot her name down on my list of possibles when we were told she was taking a break, because I had a feeling that the lymphoma might have come back. Not that we know that it did, and it seems they're not telling. Anyway I forgot about it.

Given her job I think it's a credit to her she kept her illness secret.

[Bibliogryphon 9,571]

 

 

 

 

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

 

I think it is right for Lardy to make this point at this time. She spent 42 years playing a character that was defined by the size of glasses she wore. It is for the tabloid press to carry out the griefporn but when someone goes we assess their work objectively. There have been some passing that have been marked by an outpouring of genuine affection on these pages which is probably worth a lot more than glorifying everyone that dies.

 

However there may be a lingering resentment for Anne that she managed to pass under the radar. Oddly enough someone in my work game played her as a wildcard and I then remembered that she had been given time off. "One to watch for next year" I thought........ Ha

 

I suppose, being fair, I'm a bit biased because I fucking hate Coronation Street. But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years - they haven't given us a chance to form any other opinion other than their cheesy soap appearances. Of course there will always be the exception - June Brown has played Dot Cotton forever, and I think she's great, but the same applies, she's not done a huge amount outside of Eastenders for the past 30 years, thus depriving us of her wider talents.

 

June Brown has played other roles concurrently with her stint as Dot Cotton, whereas Anne Kirkbride's only other IMDB-listed credits are a comic relief appearance as Deirdre and a Hetty Wainthrop investigates appearance also as Deirdre. Plus what I assume is a bit part in a play. FWIW I also think she was a pretty poor actress - especially evident when she was required to display 'emotion'.

 

For evidence of June Brown's talents I would suggest watching BBC adaptation of Gormanghast where she is superb alongside Christopher Lee, Ian Richardson, Stephen Fry, Fiona Shaw etc. She has also made Dot a character that trancended her initial remit as a comic third witch to Ethel and Lou and she has always been better than her material but occasionally they give her something meaty to do. e.g the solo episdoe or the very early Dot & Ethel episode. Eastenders has always occasionally been able to surprise by doing something leftfield which Corrie never seems to embrace.

 

Still don't watch it though.

[Phantom 2,533]

 

 

 

 

 

I'm obviously the only one who thought she was a fairly crap actress then?

Not exactly the point in theses cases though. William Roache is a pretty shite actor but his characters icon status will mean his deathed is griefporned to hell like Anne Kirkbrides has.

 

 

I missed her off a fucking corrie theme team for crying out loud....

 

I think it is right for Lardy to make this point at this time. She spent 42 years playing a character that was defined by the size of glasses she wore. It is for the tabloid press to carry out the griefporn but when someone goes we assess their work objectively. There have been some passing that have been marked by an outpouring of genuine affection on these pages which is probably worth a lot more than glorifying everyone that dies.

 

However there may be a lingering resentment for Anne that she managed to pass under the radar. Oddly enough someone in my work game played her as a wildcard and I then remembered that she had been given time off. "One to watch for next year" I thought........ Ha

 

I suppose, being fair, I'm a bit biased because I fucking hate Coronation Street. But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years - they haven't given us a chance to form any other opinion other than their cheesy soap appearances. Of course there will always be the exception - June Brown has played Dot Cotton forever, and I think she's great, but the same applies, she's not done a huge amount outside of Eastenders for the past 30 years, thus depriving us of her wider talents.

 

June Brown has played other roles concurrently with her stint as Dot Cotton, whereas Anne Kirkbride's only other IMDB-listed credits are a comic relief appearance as Deirdre and a Hetty Wainthrop investigates appearance also as Deirdre. Plus what I assume is a bit part in a play. FWIW I also think she was a pretty poor actress - especially evident when she was required to display 'emotion'.

 

For evidence of June Brown's talents I would suggest watching BBC adaptation of Gormanghast where she is superb alongside Christopher Lee, Ian Richardson, Stephen Fry, Fiona Shaw etc. She has also made Dot a character that trancended her initial remit as a comic third witch to Ethel and Lou and she has always been better than her material but occasionally they give her something meaty to do. e.g the solo episdoe or the very early Dot & Ethel episode. Eastenders has always occasionally been able to surprise by doing something leftfield which Corrie never seems to embrace.

 

Still don't watch it though.

 

Gormenghast was excellent. Such a shame 3 of the cast are no longer with us.

[Vinegar Tits 606]

 

But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years

While I agree that playing the same character forever doesn't show a wide acting range, being purely pragmatic it makes sense to stay in a regular well-paid job that you enjoy doing for as long as possible for security reasons.Anyway, Deirdre was involved in most of the best Corrie storylines I can remember - Rovers lorry crash where Tracey was missing, Ken/Mike affair, the whole Samir thing, and going to prison.

She'll be missed.

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

 

But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years

While I agree that playing the same character forever doesn't show a wide acting range, being purely pragmatic it makes sense to stay in a regular well-paid job that you enjoy doing for as long as possible for security reasons.Anyway, Deirdre was involved in most of the best Corrie storylines I can remember - Rovers lorry crash where Tracey was missing, Ken/Mike affair, the whole Samir thing, and going to prison.

She'll be missed.

 

Possibly not the finest example to be fair.

That was a cringing plot and the fella that played Samir was so wooden it looked like somebody had left a fence on the Street.

Hey, her specs live on, right?

[Deathray 2,940]

 

But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years

While I agree that playing the same character forever doesn't show a wide acting range, being purely pragmatic it makes sense to stay in a regular well-paid job that you enjoy doing for as long as possible for security reasons.Anyway, Deirdre was involved in most of the best Corrie storylines I can remember - Rovers lorry crash where Tracey was missing, Ken/Mike affair, the whole Samir thing, and going to prison.

She'll be missed.

I refer you to Bill Roache who points out that soap actors aren't playing the same charachter as like people they change over time

[Toast 16,132]

 

 

But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years

While I agree that playing the same character forever doesn't show a wide acting range, being purely pragmatic it makes sense to stay in a regular well-paid job that you enjoy doing for as long as possible for security reasons.Anyway, Deirdre was involved in most of the best Corrie storylines I can remember - Rovers lorry crash where Tracey was missing, Ken/Mike affair, the whole Samir thing, and going to prison.

She'll be missed.

 

Possibly not the finest example to be fair.

That was a cringing plot and the fella that played Samir was so wooden it looked like somebody had left a fence on the Street.

Hey, her specs live on, right?

 

 

I still watched it in those days. Was it ever explained why she pronounced his name "Shamir" for ages and then suddenly started calling him "Samir"?

[time 8,596]

 

 

 

But for me, a good actor/actress is defined by diversity and versatility, an ability to play a range of roles and make them believable, and I think some people, especially long standing soap stars like Dreary Barlow , William Roache and Adam Woodyatt, have done themselves no favours by remaining in the same character for hundreds of years

While I agree that playing the same character forever doesn't show a wide acting range, being purely pragmatic it makes sense to stay in a regular well-paid job that you enjoy doing for as long as possible for security reasons.Anyway, Deirdre was involved in most of the best Corrie storylines I can remember - Rovers lorry crash where Tracey was missing, Ken/Mike affair, the whole Samir thing, and going to prison.

She'll be missed.

 

Possibly not the finest example to be fair.

That was a cringing plot and the fella that played Samir was so wooden it looked like somebody had left a fence on the Street.

Hey, her specs live on, right?

 

 

I still watched it in those days. Was it ever explained why she pronounced his name "Shamir" for ages and then suddenly started calling him "Samir"?

 

Surely Shome Mishtake

[Magere Hein 1,400]

Surely Shome Mishtake

Miss, miss, time is doing his Sean Connery impersonation again!

 

regards,

Hein