Anne Kristen

Anne Kristen (7 March 1937 – 7 August 1996) was a Scottish actress, best known for her television roles, including Olive Rowe in Coronation Street, Miss Meiklejohn in Hamish Macbeth, Molly Farmer in Wings, and Norma Sullivan in Casualty.

Early life and education Kristen was born in 1937 in Glasgow, and grew up in the suburb of Bearsden. Her father, Reginald Biles, was a senior journalist and lead writer for the Glasgow Herald. She acted in plays at the Laurel Bank school in Glasgow. After leaving school, she went on to study at the Royal College of Music and Dramatic Art in Glasgow, where she won a Silver Medal for her work. Kristen then went on to further stage work in Scotland and London before embarking on a television career.

Career

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1982 Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaites Veritie Scottish Theatre Company Tom Fleming play by Sir David Lindsay, adapted by Robert Kemp

Radio

Early television career Kristen's first role was on BBC Sunday-Night Play in 1960, for one episode, as the character Nellie Watson. She then appeared in Doctor Finlay's Casebook for two episodes in 1963 and 1966, with a later guest appearance on Doctor Finlay in 1994. Throughout the 1960s she made numerous one-episode appearances in various TV series. She was in The Expert for three episodes in 1969. Her best-known early role was in Coronation Street, in 1971, as Olive Rowe. Between 1991 and 1993, she was in multiple episodes of Casualty (TV series) as receptionist Norma Sullivan. Her longest-lasting role was as Miss Meiklejohn in Hamish Macbeth. She appeared in 17 episodes in 1995 and 1996. She died from pancreatic cancer on 7 August 1996, at age 59. Her ashes are buried in Ancrum Churchyard, beside her mother and father, in Roxburghshire.