Anne Reid studied with the likes of Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney at RADA and is currently playing the part of an ailing mother in a West End production of The York Realist.
But for most of us, she's best known as Jean in Dinnerladies and poor Valerie Barlow in Coronation Street who came to a sad end when she was involved in a freak accident with a hair-dryer.
She talks to Martha about her long career. The York Realist is on at the Strand Theatre from 9 March to 20 April 2002. Box Office number 08709 013356.