Coronation Street Actress Barbara Ferris Dies at 85

Barbara Ferris, a former Coronation Street star, has sadly passed away at the age of 85. She died on May 23, but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Barbara is survived by her husband and three children — Nicholas, Christopher, and Catherine.

A Short But Memorable Role in Coronation Street

Barbara Ferris was best known to TV fans for her role as Nona Willis, a barmaid at the Rovers Return Inn in Coronation Street. However, she left the show after only 10 episodes because she found it difficult to understand the Lancastrian accent spoken by other characters and locals in Manchester.

A Versatile Career in Film and Theatre

Barbara’s acting journey began in her teen years in London, starting with work in advertisements and pantomimes. She then moved into modelling and later explored dance, performing in Bob Fosse’s The Pajama Game.

One of her most iconic film roles was as Dinah in the 1965 movie Catch Us If You Can, where she starred opposite pop star Dave Clark. She also appeared in the sci-fi film Children of the Damned and the crime biopic The Krays in 1990 — her final film role.

In addition to mainstream films, Barbara performed in fringe theatre and even produced and financed two shows at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington. She was also involved in the bold and controversial 1960s stage play Saved by Edward Bond, which tackled tough social themes and was famously censored in its time.

A Family of Achievers

Barbara came from a family of high achievers. Her sister Liz Ferris was a champion springboard diver who won a bronze medal for Great Britain at the 1960 Rome Olympics.