Meg Johnson

Margaret Mary Foster (30 September 1936 – 1 July 2023), better known as Meg Johnson, was an English actress. Over a career spanning almost six decades, she became known for her soap opera roles as Eunice Gee in Coronation Street, Brigid McKenna in Brookside, and Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale. She also appeared in musicals including Chicago and Follies.

Early life Johnson was born Margaret Mary Green in Manchester on 30 September 1936 to Eleanor (née James), a former bus conductress, and Stan Green, a brewery foreman. Johnson was evacuated to Bolton during World War II and made her stage debut there, aged six, singing and dancing at the Grand Theatre. After developing asthma, she began singing lessons to improve her breathing. Johnson first appeared in a few episodes of the ITV television soap opera Coronation Street in 1972 as a tipsy woman and in 1976 as Brenda Holden, before being cast as Eunice Gee in 1981, a role she would play with recurring appearances until 1999.

In the 1980s, Johnson worked with Victoria Wood, appearing in several episodes of her shows Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, as well as Victoria Wood. In 1997, Johnson appeared in the West End theatre revival of Chicago as Mama Morton. She also appeared in theatre productions of Follies and Gypsy. Later in 2003, Johnson was cast as Pearl Ladderbanks in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, although due to the number of episodes per week of Brookside being reduced in its later months, her last appearances as Brigid aired after she had already been seen on screen as Pearl. Johnson played the role of Pearl until March 2020.

Personal life In 1956, Johnson married Hibbert Johnson. The marriage produced a son and a daughter, but later ended in divorce.

Johnson was married to English actor and ITV Granada presenter Charles Foster from 1981 until his death on 23 February 2023.

Death Johnson died at a care home in Rochdale called the Willows on 1 July 2023, aged 86. In a statement, her family said that she "had dementia for the last few years, but battled on personally and professionally regardless". Emmerdale paid tribute to her on its social media accounts, describing Johnson as "a kind and wonderful lady, full of warmth and always with a twinkle in her eye" and added that she would be "greatly missed by everyone who knew her".

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1961–1964 Here's Harry Unknown Recurring role; 5 episodes 1961 Family Solicitor Mary Carslake 3 episodes The Referees Waitress Television film 1964 Comedy Playhouse Office girl Episode: "The Mascot" 1972 Country Matters Barmaid Episode: "Crippled Bloom" Coronation Street Tipsy woman 1 episode 1973 Nearest and Dearest Miss Pringle Episode: "Get Out of That" 1974 How's Your Father? Alice Henthorn Episode: "Who Was That Lady?" 1975 The Life of Riley Betty Butcher Episode: "Uneasy Riders" Play for Today Vera Episode: "Wednesday Love" 1976 Coronation Street Brenda Holden 4 episodes Crown Court Tricia Dibden 2 episodes 1976–1977 Yanks Go Home Phoebe Sankey Lead role; 13 episodes 1978 Strangers Barmaid Episode: "Paying Guests" 1978–1979 Empire Road Mrs. Ridley Starring role; 4 episodes 1979 Two Up, Two Down Woman in precinct Episode: "What's Yours Is Mine" Mother Nature's Bloomers Various All 6 episodes 1980 Watch All Night Dianne Eveling Episode: "Night People" Strangers Woman in suburbs Episode: "Armed and Dangerous" 1980–1981 The Good Companions Effie 2 episodes 1981–1982, 1999 Coronation Street Eunice Gee Regular role; 72 episodes 1981 The Olympian Way Violet 2 episodes 1985–1987 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Various 4 episodes 1986 The Practice Mary O'Dowd 2 episodes 1989 Split Ends Mrs. Emery Episode: "Tangles" Victoria Wood Connie Episode: "Mens Sana in Thingummy Doodah" Saundra Episode: "Over to Pam" 1993 Taggart Mrs. Jeffrey Episode: "Fatal Inheritance" Lovejoy Maureen Episode: "Ducking and Diving" Chris Cross Nurse Garbo Episode: "It's a Jungle in There" 1995–1996 Hollyoaks Aunt Rose 2 episodes 1998–1999 The Wild House Aunt Yvette Regular role 1999 Rab C. Nesbitt Speaker of the House Episode: "Commons" 2000 Peak Practice Freda Norton Episode: "Turning Tides" 2000–2003 Brookside Brigid McKenna Regular role 2000 The Thing About Vince... Sylvia Series 1: Episode 3 2003–2020 Emmerdale Pearl Ladderbanks Regular role; 1,065 episodes 2011 Emmerdale: Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In Spin-off film Sources: