Shirley Stelfox

Shirley Rosemary Stelfox (11 April 1941 – 7 December 2015) was a British actress, known for her portrayal of the character Edna Birch, a moralising busybody in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, and as Rose, the vampy sister of the snobby and overbearing Hyacinth Bucket in the first series of the comedy series Keeping Up Appearances.

Early life Shirley Rosemary Stelfox was born on 11 April 1941 in Dukinfield, Cheshire. She suffered from bilateral amblyopia, which left her short-sighted. While she was still at Lakes Road Secondary School in Dukinfield she appeared in pantomimes at the Old Chapel in the town, and in other productions. She then studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where her classmates included Edward Fox, John Thaw and Sarah Miles.

Career Television After the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Stelfox started on BBC Television in The Case Before You, a play in which she appeared as a 15 year old arsonist. In December 1960 she appeared in her first episode of Coronation Street. She later played many different characters in the soap opera, including, in 1983, the owner of a dating agency whose customers include the longrunning character Jack Duckworth (Bill Tarmey).

She played Hyacinth Bucket's sister Rose in the first series of Keeping Up Appearances, but was replaced by Mary Millar. She appeared in several other well-known television series, including ‘’Emmerdale’’, Wicked Women (1970), Making Out, Heartbeat, Common as Muck, Juliet Bravo, The Bill, Crossroads, Inspector Morse, Grange Hill and Albion Market. She appeared Brookside as Madge Richmond (1986–1987), and in 1999 she appeared in two episodes of EastEnders as Jane Healy.

Among many other one-off parts, she played Alice Hobson in Hobson’s Choice (1967), Helen in Civvies (1992), Julie Clegg in Three Seven Eleven (1993–1994), Jean in Common as Muck (1994) and Mrs Nolan in Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1999–2000). She played Regan in King Lear at the Ludlow Festival in 1972 and at the Connaught Theatre. She also played Lady Macbeth in 1973, Yelena in Uncle Vanya in 1974 and Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1978.

Personal life and death Stelfox was married to Keith Edmundson for three years. She had a daughter from this marriage. She married her fellow actor Don Henderson in 1979 and they were together until his death from throat cancer in 1997. They lived in Stratford-upon-Avon, where she helped to bring up Henderson's two children from his first marriage. She moved to Nottinghamshire after Henderson's death.

Stelfox died on 7 December 2015, aged 74, four weeks after she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Selective filmography Year Title Role Notes 1960, 1964-1994 Coronation Street Norma / Barmaid / Margot Sutcliffe / Shirley Henderson 10 episodes 1966 Pardon the Expression Sales Assistant Episode: "The Dinner Party" 1967 Who Is Sylvia? Episode: "A Pool of Blood and a Red Carnation" 1968 Corruption Girl at Party 1971-1972 Nearest and Dearest Det. Constable Gloria Simpkins / Clara Wilson 2 episodes 1971 Carry On at Your Convenience Bunny Girl Waitress 1972 Budgie The Barmaid Episode: "Our Story So Far..." 1973 Pathfinders Grete Episode: "Sweets from a Stranger" 1973 Crown Court Mrs Catherine Barnes Episode: "Regina v Barnes: Whatever Happened to George Robins?: Part 3" 1980-1983 Juliet Bravo Mrs Collis / Mavis 'Colette' Newby 2 episodes 1981 Play for Today Mrs Smith Episode: "A Brush with Mr Porter on the Road to El Dorado" 1981 The Chinese Detective Arlene Episode: "Release" 1983 Grange Hill Secretary 1 episode 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four Prostitute 1984-1988 Bergerac Anna Ackerman / Pam Lewis 2 episodes 1984 Bootle Saddles Rita Henderson 6 episodes 1986–1987 Brookside Madge Richmond 15 episodes 1987 Knights of God Beth Edwards 7 episodes 1987 Personal Services Shirley 1988 Inspector Morse Mrs Kane Episode: "Last Bus to Woodstock" 1989–1991 Making Out Carol May 24 episodes 1990 Keeping Up Appearances Rose 6 episodes 1991-1999 The Bill Mrs Fowler / Gill Gibson / Mrs Larch / Mrs Mitchell 4 episodes 1992 Heartbeat Mrs Parkin Episode: "Fruits of the Earth" 1993–1994 Three Seven Eleven Julie Clegg 16 episodes 1994 Screen One Vera Episode: "Pat and Margaret" 1994–1997 Common As Muck Jean 5 episodes 1995 Harry's Mad Mrs Turtle 6 episodes 1999–2000 Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married Mrs Nolan 16 episodes 1999 EastEnders Jane Healy Episode: "New Year's Eve 1999": Part 1 and 2 2000–2015 Emmerdale Edna Birch 901 episodes, (final appearance) 2015 Butterflies & Diamonds Prison Facility Psychologist