Actress Anne Kirkbride, who played Deidre Barlow on the popular U.K. soap Coronation Street for more than four decades, has died. She was 60 years old.
She died in a Manchester, England, hospital after a short illness, according to a statement on the ITV network’s site.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, meets Coronation Street stars Anne Kirkbride, centre, and Ryan Thomas, left, on the set of the popular soap in 2010. (Andrew Yates/Reuters)
Her husband, David Beckett, confirmed her death to the network.
The cast and crew of Coronation Street said they were “heartbroken and deeply saddened” by the news.
Show creator Tony Warren said Kirkbride was “easy to love” and that “her talent over the years made a massive contribution to Coronation Street.”
He on-screen husband, William Roache called her “a loving and vibrant person” whose “laugh was never far away.”
According to the Mail Online, the actress was originally granted an eight-week break from the show back in September, but after enjoying some time off she then requested a further three months additional leave while she dealt with “personal issues.”
Source:: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/anne-kirkbride-coronation-street-actress-dead-at-60-1.2918585?cmp=rss
