Margot Bryant

Kathleen Mary Margaret Bryant (8 March 1897 – 1 January 1988), known professionally as Margot Bryant, was an English stage and television actress best known for playing Minnie Caldwell in the soap opera Coronation Street from its inception in 1960 until her departure in 1976.

Early life and career Bryant was born in Hull, the daughter of general practitioner Dr. William Arthur Bryant and Catherine Lewis. Bryant moved to London with her parents on completing her education. There, she became interested in theatre, and appeared in the chorus lines of various productions before moving on to musical comedies. She danced in Fred Astaire's show Stop Flirting in London's Queen's Theatre (1923).

Bryant appeared in a number of films, such as The Cure for Love (1949) and Beat Girl in 1960 and also in a West End role, as Lucy in Gay's the Word at the Saville Theatre. Bryant toured in My Mother Said and later appeared in the show's 1949 television production. She appeared in The Bell Family and in the films I Get Myself Arrested and The Large Rope (1953).

Bryant appeared in various television series including Charlesworth at Large (1958), Champion Road (1958), Probation Officer (1960), and Boyd Q.C. (1960)

Coronation Street Bryant's most notable role came later in life, playing the timid, elderly Minnie Caldwell in the soap opera Coronation Street, a role she occupied from 1960 to 1976, over the course of 987 episodes. The character's life tended to revolve around her ginger tomcat, Bobby. Caldwell was a diminutive figure, with a distracted manner and often appeared drinking milk stout in the snug of the soap's public house, the Rovers Return Inn.

The character, consequently, was a put upon companion of her two friends, busybody Martha Longhurst (played by Lynne Carol) and battle-axe Ena Sharples (played by Violet Carson). On the formation of the trio, the show's creator Tony Warren explained, "I noticed that whenever you get tough, old viragos, they've got henchmen. Generally had a talkative one, who could be shouted down, and a silent one, who nodded but was a bit rebellious."

Bryant was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and admitted to Cheadle Royal Hospital in Heald Green, where she remained as an in-patient until her death on New Year's Day 1988. She never married or had children, but had a love of cats.