Anne Reid

Anne was born in Newcastle--upon-,Tyne but the family moved to Redcar when WWII started. She was educated at White House School where she acted in a school play of Romeo and Juliet with June Laverick, who, when older, would also take to the stage. Later, Anne was sent to a boarding school, Penrose College, in North Wales and at eleven years of age sang in a choir. Her father became a special correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, an uncle and three brothers who were all journalists. Anne took elocution lessons and did bits in plays with a teacher, who, recognising her talent, helped her to get into RADA. Afterwards, she worked as as a stage manager and did some work in repertory. Her first work in television involved sketches with Benny Hill, but she gave up acting in 1974 before returning in 1986, eventually making her name in the part of Valerie Barlow in the television soap Coronation Street.