Anne Reid

Anne Reid (born 28 May 1935) is an English stage, film and television actress, known for her roles as Valerie Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street (1961–1971); Jean in the sitcom dinnerladies (1998–2000); and her role as Celia Dawson in Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020) for which she was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. A further nomination in the same category followed for playing Ann Moore-Martin in The Sixth Commandment.

For her performance in the film The Mother (2003), Reid won the London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the Year and received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Other notable film roles include the voice of Wendolene Ramsbottom in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave (1995) and as Leslie Tiller in Hot Fuzz (2007).

Early life Reid was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, the daughter of Colin Norman Reid (1896–1970) and Annie Eliza (née Weetman) (1896–1980). She lived with her parents and three older brothers in Redcar, where she attended John Emmerson Batty primary school and the White House School. From the age of 11 she attended Penrhos College, a boarding school in North Wales, when her father was posted abroad as a foreign correspondent for The Daily Telegraph: she visited her parents occasionally in India, Tehran and Beirut in the school holidays. Upon leaving school she moved to London to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She then became a stage manager and worked in repertory theatre.

Television Coronation Street Although she had already appeared in other television programmes including The Benny Hill Show (1957), Hancock's Half Hour (1957) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1958), Reid's first major acting role was as the character of Valerie Tatlock (later Barlow) on Coronation Street. Her character was very popular with the show's fans; as such, Valerie's marriage to Ken Barlow can be seen as an early example of a soap supercouple.

Valerie was the mother of the twins Susan and Peter. Reid joined the cast, initially for two months, starting in August 1961 and leaving in October. She returned to the programme to marry Ken on 1 August 1962, in a wedding watched by 15.8 million viewers. In 1965, Val and Ken had twins, and Granada Television received numerous congratulation gifts addressed to the couple.

In 1968, Reid played one of her most difficult parts in Coronation Street when Val was held hostage by a rapist. Although Val was not harmed, viewers sent in hate mail to the actor who played the rapist. In November 1970, Reid announced she was leaving Coronation Street. In a 2011 interview with the Radio Times, Reid said she had enough and wanted to do other things:

I was a basket case when I left! I'd already had too much of it. That kind of work suits some people, but it didn't suit me. It was my decision to leave and I was desperate, really desperate, to go. Because I knew I was good at comedy and there was no way that Valerie Barlow was ever going to be funny.

On 27 January 1971, 18.26 million viewers watched as Valerie Barlow was written out of the soap, dying after being electrocuted by a hairdryer with a faulty plug. and in 2006 made a brief appearance in Jane Eyre.

On 31 March 2007, Reid appeared for a second time in the series Doctor Who in the episode "Smith and Jones". In the episode, she played Florence Finnegan: a shape-shifting, blood-sucking alien known as a Plasmavore, who took on the guise of a human. That same year she appeared in the ITV television adaptation of the novel The Bad Mother's Handbook, co-starring alongside Catherine Tate.

In February 2008, Reid appeared as the mother of Monica Gallagher, Joan, who was suffering from Alzheimer's in the Channel 4 drama Shameless. In October 2008, she played the title role in In Love with Barbara on BBC Four, a biographical film of Barbara Cartland.

In 2009, Reid appeared in the television series Agatha Christie's Marple in the episode Nemesis. From 2009 to 2010 she starred as Vera alongside Maureen Lipman as Irene in an ITV3 adaptation of the BBC Radio 4 series Ladies of Letters.

In 2010, she began playing Mrs Thackeray, the cook, in the BBC's short-lived revival series of Upstairs Downstairs, and also appeared in Five Days, New Tricks and Moving On. In 2011 Reid had a major part in Marchlands, a five-part ITV supernatural drama, made a guest appearance in Doc Martin and played a supporting role in The Jury II.

In 2012 Reid began starring as Celia alongside Sir Derek Jacobi as Alan in the BBC romantic comedy-drama series, Last Tango in Halifax. Reid was nominated for the 2013 British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for this role.

In 2013, she appeared in the second series of the BBC drama Prisoners' Wives. She also starred with Katherine Kelly in The Last Witch, part of a series of original dramas for Sky Living and appeared in the final Agatha Christie's Poirot mystery, Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case as Daisy Luttrell. The following year, she guest-starred in "Sardines", the first episode of the BBC anthology series Inside No. 9. She also starred alongside Lee Ingleby and Ralf Little in the six-part BBC drama series Our Zoo.

Reid took part in an episode of the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in September 2015.

In 2017, Reid starred alongside Timothy Spall in "The Commuter", an episode of the Channel 4/Amazon Video anthology series Electric Dreams. In 2018 and 2019, she starred alongside Alison Steadman and John Cleese in a new BBC comedy series, Hold the Sunset.

In 2019 Reid co-starred in a six-part BBC drama series, Years and Years, starring Emma Thompson. Reid played the matriarch of the central family, Muriel Deacon. From 2019 to 2023 she starred as the wealthy Lady Denham in the ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon.

In 2023 she starred alongside Timothy Spall and Éanna Hardwicke in the BBC true-life crime drama The Sixth Commandment, for which she nominated for the 2024 British Academy Television Award for Best Actress.

In 2024 Reid was announced as being in the cast of a new BBC drama series, Riot Women. The series broadcast in late 2025.

Film Reid voiced Wendolene Ramsbottom in the Wallace & Gromit film A Close Shave (1995). Her other film appearances include Love and Death on Long Island (1997); The Mother (2003), for which her performance secured her a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2004; Hot Fuzz (2007); Cemetery Junction (2010); and Song for Marion (2013).

Additionally, Reid filmed a minor role as a lesbian headmistress in the movie Love Actually (2003), but Reid is not credited in the cast list since all her scenes were ultimately deleted, because they were not central to the main plot. The scenes can, however, be viewed in the deleted scenes on the Love Actually DVD.

Theatre In 2002 Reid appeared in the premiere of The York Realist at the Royal Court Theatre, which later transferred to the West End.

From September 2005 to January 2006, she appeared on stage in the West End in Epitaph for George Dillon.

In June 2007, Reid played the role of Jack's mother in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

From January to May 2008, Reid appeared in the National Theatre's production of Happy Now?, a new play by Lucinda Coxon.

From March to May 2009, Reid appeared at the Donmar Warehouse in Dimetos, a 1975 play by Athol Fugard.

From September to November 2012, Reid appeared at London's Old Vic, in a production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, starring Sheridan Smith.

On 26 January 2015, Reid played Madame Armfeldt in a special concert version of A Little Night Music, at the Palace Theatre, to celebrate 40 years since the musical premiered in the West End.

In July and August 2016, Reid appeared at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester alongside James Bolam in a new play, Fracked! Or: Please Don't Use the F-Word by Alistair Beaton. The play was revived for a national tour in April and May 2017.

From October to December 2017, Reid returned to the West End opposite Eve Best in Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance at the Vaudeville Theatre.

From March to May 2023, Reid appeared in the UK premiere of Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.

Reid played Queen Elizabeth II in a new play, By Royal Appointment, by Daisy Goodwin. The play, which also starred Caroline Quentin, opened at the Theatre Royal Bath in June 2025, followed by a tour.

Reid co-starred alongside Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in the Broadway transfer of Oedipus at Studio 54 from October 2025 to February 2026.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1958 Passport to Shame Woman Getting Married Uncredited role 1995 Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave Wendolene Short film, voice role 1997 Love and Death on Long Island Maureen 2000 Liam Mrs. Abernathy 2003 The Mother May Love Actually Headmistress Uncredited role (scenes deleted) 2005 A Little Trip to Heaven Martha 2007 Hot Fuzz Leslie TillerWas murdered Hit for Six Show Producer Savage Grace Nini Daly 2008 Affinity Mrs. Brink Faintheart Barbara Wallace 2010 Cemetery Junction Freddie's Gran 2011 Foster Diane Also known as Angel in the House 2012 Song for Marion Brenda 2013 Believe Jean Busby Tea Time in Haworth Jean Short film 2015 A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman Herself Documentary 2016 Kaleidoscope Aileen 2017 Romans Mother Also known as Retaliation The Snowman Mrs. Bendiksen 2018 A Woman of No Importance Lady Hunstanton Filmed live at The Vaudeville Theatre, London 2019 The Aeronauts Ethel Glaisher 2020 The Nest Rory's Mum 2021 SAS: Red Notice Charlotte 2023The Trouble with Jessica Miranda +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Television Year Title Role Notes 1957 The Benny Hill Show Episode: "#2.2" The Machine Breakers Mary 3 episodes 1957–1959 Hancock's Half Hour Actress / Young Wife / Secretary 5 episodes 1958 ITV Play of the Week Alice Episode: "The Rossiters" Time Is the Enemy Patience Mee 7 episodes The Adventures of Robin Hood Betsey / Alison / Mellissa 4 episodes Murder Bag Episode: "Lockhart Watches the Clock" 1959 Crime Sheet Episode: "Lockhart Sees a Chemist" 1961–1971 Coronation Street Valerie Tatlock / Valerie Barlow Recurring role, 632 episodes 1962 Television Club Nurse Episode: "The Wade Family: The Hospital" 1969-1970 All Star Comedy Carnival Valerie Barlow Television Christmas special 1972 ITV Playhouse Lily Episode: "Buggins' Empire" 1973 Play for Today Eileen Morris Episode: "Edward G: Like the Filmstar" Six Days of Justice Margery Birkenshaw Episode: "The Complaint" 1975 Nightingale's Boys Claire Selby Episode: "Spivvy" 1976 Red Letter Day Sheila Harding Episode: "Matchfit" Heydays Hotel Merel Roberts Television film 1977 Fathers and Families Martha Frend Mini-series, 1 episode: "Left for Dead" 1978 ITV Playhouse Alice Episode: "One of the Boys" Strangers Audrey Stephens Episode: "Right and Wrong" Crown Court Mrs. Grace Cook / Florence Davenport 6 episodes: "Michael: Parts 1–3" and "A Man with Everything: Parts 1–3" 1979 Leave it to Charlie Mrs. Hunnicutt Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" 1979–1980 The Mallens Mathilda Bensham 4 episodes 1981 My Father's House Aunt Kitty Mini-series, 3 episodes 1984 Love and Marriage Ruth Episode: "Lucifer" 1985 The Practice Sylvia Rush 4 episodes Bleak House Mrs. Bagnet Mini-series, 1 episode: "#1.7" Shine On Harvey Moon Joan Episode: "All or Nothing at All" 1986 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Pam Twill Episode: "#2.1" 1987 Screen Two Mrs. Hawke Episode: "Inappropriate Behaviour" 1988 Boon Yvonne Temple Episode: "Beef Encounter" 1989 Doctor Who Nurse Crane "The Curse of Fenric" (4 episodes) 4 Play Pam Radley Episode: "Dawn and the Candidate" Victoria Wood Enid / Sheila 2 episodes: "Mens Sana in Thingummy Doodah" and "The Library" About Face Geraldine Episode: "Mrs. Worthington's Daughter" 1990 A Bit of Fry and Laurie Episode: "#2.3" Made in Heaven Wilma Episode: "The Big Match" 1991 Josie Smith Miss Potts 2 episodes The Upper Hand Nurse Edwards Episode: "The Anniversary" Rich Tea and Sympathy Sally 6 episodes Very Big Very Soon Susan Driscoll Episode: "The Taxman" 1992 Casualty Barbara Episode: "Will You Still Love Me?" The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Joyce Virson 2 episodes: "Kissing the Gunner's Daughter: Parts One & Two" Crime Story Muriel McKay Episode: "Gone Too Far: The Mystery of Mrs. Muriel McKay" An Ungentlemanly Act Mrs. Mozeley Television film 1992–1994 Firm Friends Wendy Holmes 6 episodes 1993 The Bill Mrs. Proctor Episode: "Pride and Joy" Micky Love Jenny Television film Heartbeat Marjorie Doubleday Episode: "Baby Blues" 1993–1999 Peak Practice Rita Barrat 12 episodes 1994 Pat and Margaret Maeve Television film Seaforth Aunt Enid Mini-series, 3 episodes Where the Buffalo Roam Pam Television film 1995 The Infiltrator Ingrid Fischer Television film Roughnecks Renie 3 episodes 1996 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Hilda Episode: "A High Profile" Sometime, Never Annette Episode: "Getting Results" 1996–1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... Mother / Gwen / Mrs. Thomson 3 episodes 1997 The Wingless Bird Alice Conway Mini-series, 3 episodes Spark Mrs Rudge 6 episodes Next of Kin Patsy Episode: "Neighbours" Heartbeat Aunt Alison Episode: "Affairs of the Heart" 1998–1999 Playing the Field Mrs. Gill 6 episodes 1998–2000 dinnerladies Jean 15 episodes 1999 Lost for Words Gloria Television film 2000 Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings Various characters Television special 2001 Linda Green Yvonne Mott Episode: "Rest in Peace" Hearts and Bones Annie Rose 2 episodes: "#2.4" and "#2.6" 2001–2002 Dalziel and Pascoe Harriet Clifford - Dalziel's Sister 2 episodes: "Truth and Consequences" and "Sins of the Fathers" 2002 Sweet Charity Agnes Television film 2003 Midsomer Murders Sarah Proudie Episode: "A Tale of Two Hamlets" The Booze Cruise Grace Television film The Young Visiters Mrs. Monticue Television film 2004 Rose and Maloney Bea Linden 2 episodes: "Daniel Berrington: Parts 1 & 2" 2004–2006 Life Begins Brenda Thornhill 16 episodes 2005 Bleak House Mrs. Rouncewell Mini-series, 9 episodes The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt Grace Stringer Television film 2006 The True Voice of Murder Television film The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering Grace Television film Jane Eyre Gypsy Woman Mini-series, 1 episode 2007 The Bad Mother's Handbook Nancy Hesketh Television film Doctor Who Florence Finnegan Episode: "Smith and Jones" Agatha Christie's Marple Sister Agnes Episode: "Nemesis" 2008 Shameless Joan Dallimore Episode: "Absent Parents" In Love with Barbara Barbara Cartland Television film 2009–2010 Ladies of Letters Vera Small 20 episodes 2010 Five Days Jen Mason 5 episodes New Tricks Sophie Urquhart Episode: "It Smells of Books" Moving On Diane Episode: "I am Darleen Fyles" 2010–2012 Upstairs, Downstairs Mrs. Clarice Thackeray 12 episodes 2011 Marchlands Ruth Bowen Mini-series, 4 episodes The Jury June Brierley 5 episodes Doc Martin Mrs. Dingley Episode: "Cats and Sharks" Grandpa in My Pocket Madame Vibrato Episode: "Boom a Boom Whoop Zing Zoo!" 2012–2020 Last Tango in Halifax Celia 24 episodes 2013 Prisoners' Wives Margaret 4 episodes The Last Witch Miranda Television film Agatha Christie's Poirot Daisy Luttrell Episode: "Curtain: Poirot's Last Case" 2014 Inside No 9 Geraldine Episode: "Sardines" Our Zoo Lucy Mottershead Mini-series, 6 episodes 2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Martine Episode: "The Commuter" 2018 Claude Dame Mumsie Turret Episode: "A Good Night's Sleep", voice role 2018–2019 Hold the Sunset Queenie 12 episodes 2019 Years and Years Muriel Deacon Mini-series, 6 episodes 2019–2023 Sanditon Lady Denham 20 episodes 2023 The Sixth Commandment Ann Moore-Martin Mini-series, 3 episodes 2025 Riot Women Nancy Gaskell 4 episodes

Awards and nominations

Reid was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours, both for services to drama.