STAR GONE
Barbara Ferris dead: Beloved Coronation Street star dies aged 85 after decades-long career as tributes pour in
She left the drama because she struggled to understand the accents
A FORMER model and Corrie actress has passed away aged 85.
Barbara Ferris played a barmaid in Coronation Street in 1961, and was the sister of Call the Midwife actress Pam Ferris, who is 77.
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Her sister also appeared in Matilda and Harry Potter.
Ferris played the part of Nona Willis, at the Rovers Return, but left the drama after 10 episodes because she struggled to understand the Lancastrian accent.
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She may also be remembered as Dinah, the woman who eloped with Dave Clark in the 1965 film Catch Us If You Can.
Her last film was Peter Medak’s The Krays in 1990.
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She retired to raise her family, and travel with her husband’s work.
They had homes in Ireland, Zurich and in London.
Devastated fans have posted photos of the actress online to share their condolences.
Born in London, she was the second of two children to Dorothy and Roy Ferris.
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As a teenager, while at the Italia Conti stage school, she worked in commercials and pantomime to help out with the family finances.
Her sister Liz became a springboard diving champion, and won a bronze medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Ferris married film producer John Quested in 1960.
But their honeymoon was only one night in the Dorchester hotel as she was about to make her professional stage debut.
Ferris is survived by her husband and their children, Nicholas, Christopher and Catherine.
She died on May 23, 2025.
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