Eileen Derbyshire
Encyclopedia
Eileen Derbyshire, MBE
(born Helen Derbyshire on 6 October 1930 in Urmston
, Lancashire
) is an English
actress, best known for her role as Emily Bishop
on the soap opera Coronation Street
. She has played the character since 1961, making her the longest-serving female cast member in a British soap opera. She is the mother of sports journalist Oliver Holt
.
From the age of 17, Derbyshire was appearing in plays broadcast on the radio. After several small parts on television, she joined the cast of Coronation Street
, firstly as an extra in episode 4, broadcast Wednesday 21 December 1960. In episode 15, her character was named as Miss Nugent, then a year later she was given the forename Emily.
Derbyshire took a degree in teaching, trained at the Northern School of Music
, and also passed her examination at the Royal Academy of Music
. She began teaching speech and drama, but had always wanted to act. While on the bus one day, she passed Chorlton Repertory Theatre, and asked for an audition. She was enrolled as a student, and later became assistant stage manager. From there she joined Century Theatre's mobile touring company, and appeared in theatre all over the country, subsequently appearing in repertory theatre throughout Britain
.
She married retired engineer Thomas W. Holt on 1 April 1965, and the following year they had a son, Oliver
. The couple have a large cottage in Cheshire
, and Derbyshire's interests include opera
, reading, going to concerts, and holidaying in Vienna
and Venice
. Eileen is also the godmother of William Roache's children.
Eileen Derbyshire has a reputation for reclusiveness. She does not join the rest of the cast at awards ceremonies or other events, has never given any interviews for any of Coronation Streets documentaries, and has never yet appeared in any of the publicity videos on the Coronation Street website. She has appeared on television out of character very rarely. In 1988 she gave a rare interview in tribute to Margot Bryant
, and in 2005 she gave an interview for an ITV programme aimed at deaf viewers, speaking about working with the deaf actress Alison Briggs, who was playing Emily's niece, Freda Nugent, for which she was interviewed on the set and dressed in character. Her son Oliver Holt
has denied that she is reclusive, pointing out that she is simply private, and "one of the last of a dying breed of old-fashioned actresses who do it for the love of acting, not for all the attendant publicity". She rarely signs autographs in public although she has been known to respond to fan mail
.
Derbyshire was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. She is god mother to William Roache
's daughter Verity and Barbara Knox
's daughter Maxine.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Helen Derbyshire on 6 October 1930 in Urmston
Urmston
Urmston is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of around 41,000. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies about six miles to the southwest of Manchester city centre. The southern boundary is marked by the River Mersey and the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress, best known for her role as Emily Bishop
Emily Bishop
Emily Bishop is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
on the soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. She has played the character since 1961, making her the longest-serving female cast member in a British soap opera. She is the mother of sports journalist Oliver Holt
Oliver Holt
Oliver Charles Thomas Holt is an award-winning sports journalist who writes for the Daily Mirror newspaper in the United Kingdom...
.
From the age of 17, Derbyshire was appearing in plays broadcast on the radio. After several small parts on television, she joined the cast of Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, firstly as an extra in episode 4, broadcast Wednesday 21 December 1960. In episode 15, her character was named as Miss Nugent, then a year later she was given the forename Emily.
Derbyshire took a degree in teaching, trained at the Northern School of Music
Northern School of Music
The Northern School of Music started life as Manchester's branch of the Matthay School of Music. In 1943 it was properly incorporated as the Northern School of Music...
, and also passed her examination at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. She began teaching speech and drama, but had always wanted to act. While on the bus one day, she passed Chorlton Repertory Theatre, and asked for an audition. She was enrolled as a student, and later became assistant stage manager. From there she joined Century Theatre's mobile touring company, and appeared in theatre all over the country, subsequently appearing in repertory theatre throughout Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
She married retired engineer Thomas W. Holt on 1 April 1965, and the following year they had a son, Oliver
Oliver Holt
Oliver Charles Thomas Holt is an award-winning sports journalist who writes for the Daily Mirror newspaper in the United Kingdom...
. The couple have a large cottage in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, and Derbyshire's interests include opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, reading, going to concerts, and holidaying in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Eileen is also the godmother of William Roache's children.
Eileen Derbyshire has a reputation for reclusiveness. She does not join the rest of the cast at awards ceremonies or other events, has never given any interviews for any of Coronation Streets documentaries, and has never yet appeared in any of the publicity videos on the Coronation Street website. She has appeared on television out of character very rarely. In 1988 she gave a rare interview in tribute to Margot Bryant
Margot Bryant
Kathleen Mary Margaret Bryant was an English actress, best known for playing Minnie Caldwell on the soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life and career:...
, and in 2005 she gave an interview for an ITV programme aimed at deaf viewers, speaking about working with the deaf actress Alison Briggs, who was playing Emily's niece, Freda Nugent, for which she was interviewed on the set and dressed in character. Her son Oliver Holt
Oliver Holt
Oliver Charles Thomas Holt is an award-winning sports journalist who writes for the Daily Mirror newspaper in the United Kingdom...
has denied that she is reclusive, pointing out that she is simply private, and "one of the last of a dying breed of old-fashioned actresses who do it for the love of acting, not for all the attendant publicity". She rarely signs autographs in public although she has been known to respond to fan mail
Fan mail
Fan mail is mail sent to a public figure, especially a celebrity, by their admirers or "fans".In return celebrities may send a poster or picture and usually a return letter.-Overview:...
.
Derbyshire was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. She is god mother to William Roache
William Roache
William Patrick Harry Roache MBE is a British actor, best known for his role as Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street...
's daughter Verity and Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox, MBE , is an English actress, best known for playing Rita Sullivan in the television soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:Knox was born in Oldham, Lancashire...
's daughter Maxine.
External links
- Profile at corrie.net including a rare photo out of character