Veronica Doran
Encyclopedia
Veronica Doran is a British
character actress who remains best known for her 18 month stint as Marion Willis in the ITV1
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. She appeared in the series from 1982 to 1983.
but was brought up in Blackpool
. She was educated at St. Margaret Mary's School and St. Patrick's School in Carlisle before attending the Sacred Heart School in Blackpool. As a child she trained as a dancer and appeared with the Blackpool Tower Children's Ballet Company. Her career as an actress began as a voluntary helper with a small Lancashire repertory company.
Prior to this role Doran worked steadily at a string of parts in various television shows, beginning with a tiny role in the drama Crossroads. Through the '70's she played mostly in single-episodes rather than as returning characters, and gained roles in such well-known shows as Upstairs, Downstairs
and The Pallisers
. In 1981 Doran scored a regular role in the comedy Funny Man
but the program lasted only one season.
After her Coronation Street portrayal ended, Doran's television work became sparse. She appeared three times in In Loving Memory
, a comedy about undertakers. Her most recent television role came in 2000 in an episode of the crime drama Central City
. She has also worked on stage, her latest appearances being in Once a Catholic
as Mother Thomas Aquinas, Billy Liar
as Barbara, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
as Mrs. Perkins, The Wizard of Oz
as the Wicked Witch, and Blithe Spirit
as Edith.
Doran has acted in several films including For The Love of Ada
, Screamtime, The Haunted House of Horror, and Adventures of a Private Eye
.
, an organisation set up by King Edward VII to improve the British health system. When not employed in acting, Veronica donates her spare time to the organisation.
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...
character actress who remains best known for her 18 month stint as Marion Willis in the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, 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 appeared in the series from 1982 to 1983.
Early life
Veronica Doran was born 17 May 1948 in the English city of CarlisleCity of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
but was brought up in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. She was educated at St. Margaret Mary's School and St. Patrick's School in Carlisle before attending the Sacred Heart School in Blackpool. As a child she trained as a dancer and appeared with the Blackpool Tower Children's Ballet Company. Her career as an actress began as a voluntary helper with a small Lancashire repertory company.
Career
In June 1971 Doran played the small part of a worker at the Mark Brittain Warehouse named Carol in the long-running ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Over ten years later she returned to this program and performed in her best known role, that of flower shop assistant Marion Yeats. She played this part from February 1982 to March 1983.Prior to this role Doran worked steadily at a string of parts in various television shows, beginning with a tiny role in the drama Crossroads. Through the '70's she played mostly in single-episodes rather than as returning characters, and gained roles in such well-known shows as Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
and The Pallisers
The Pallisers
The Pallisers is a 1974 BBC television adaptation of Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels.-Cast :*Anthony Ainley: Rev. Emilius*Terence Alexander: Lord George*Anthony Andrews: Lord Silverbridge*Sarah Badel: Lizzie Eustace...
. In 1981 Doran scored a regular role in the comedy Funny Man
Funny Man
Funny Man is a compilation album released on American country music and novelty songwriter and singer Ray Stevens. It was released in 1989 by Mercury/Polygram Records and it features eight songs that Stevens recorded in the early 1960s for Mercury Records....
but the program lasted only one season.
After her Coronation Street portrayal ended, Doran's television work became sparse. She appeared three times in In Loving Memory
In Loving Memory
In Loving Memory is a September 1968 gospel music compilation released by Motown Records. It is dedicated to the memory of Motown founder Berry Gordy's sister, Mrs. Loucye S...
, a comedy about undertakers. Her most recent television role came in 2000 in an episode of the crime drama Central City
Central City
In city planning, a Central City is the largest or most important city or cities of a metropolitan area, of which the other smaller cities and towns of the metropolitan area are suburbs. A central city is usually the first settlement established in an urban region before the outlying districts came...
. She has also worked on stage, her latest appearances being in Once a Catholic
Once a Catholic
Once a Catholic is a play by Mary O'Malley.Once a Catholic was a comedy first performed at The Royal Court Theatre in 1977, directed by Mike Ockrent....
as Mother Thomas Aquinas, Billy Liar
Billy Liar
Billy Liar is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse, which was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and featured in a number of popular songs....
as Barbara, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a 1954 musical film directed by Stanley Donen, with music by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer....
as Mrs. Perkins, The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
as the Wicked Witch, and Blithe Spirit
Blithe Spirit (play)
Blithe Spirit is a comic play written by Noël Coward which takes its title from Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "To a Skylark" . The play concerns socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to...
as Edith.
Doran has acted in several films including For The Love of Ada
For the Love of Ada (film)
For the Love of Ada is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Ronnie Baxter and starring Irene Handl, Wilfred Pickles, Barbara Mitchell and Jack Smethurst. It is a spin-off from the television series For the Love of Ada. An elderly couple are about to celebrate the first anniversary of their...
, Screamtime, The Haunted House of Horror, and Adventures of a Private Eye
Adventures of a Private Eye
The Adventures of a Private Eye is a 1977 British sex comedy film starring Christopher Neil, Suzy Kendall, Harry H. Corbett and Liz Fraser. It was the second in the trilogy of 'Adventures' films after the 1976 film Adventures of a Taxi Driver...
.
Personal life
Doran trained as a telephone receptionist and works for the charity The Kings FundKing's Fund
The King's Fund is a charitable foundation in England. Founded as the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund for London in 1897, the fund changed its name in 1902 to King Edward's Hospital Fund after the accession to the throne of King Edward VII...
, an organisation set up by King Edward VII to improve the British health system. When not employed in acting, Veronica donates her spare time to the organisation.
Filmography
- For The Love of AdaFor the Love of Ada (film)For the Love of Ada is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Ronnie Baxter and starring Irene Handl, Wilfred Pickles, Barbara Mitchell and Jack Smethurst. It is a spin-off from the television series For the Love of Ada. An elderly couple are about to celebrate the first anniversary of their...
(1972) as Carol - Screamtime (1983)as Miss Burns
- Adventures of a Private EyeAdventures of a Private EyeThe Adventures of a Private Eye is a 1977 British sex comedy film starring Christopher Neil, Suzy Kendall, Harry H. Corbett and Liz Fraser. It was the second in the trilogy of 'Adventures' films after the 1976 film Adventures of a Taxi Driver...
(1977) as Maud - It Could Happen to YouIt Could Happen to YouIt Could Happen to You may refer to:* "It Could Happen to You" , a 1944 popular standard by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen* It Could Happen to You , a mystery film directed by Alfred L...
(1975) as Queen - Escort Girls (1974) as Vicky
- The Sex ThiefThe Sex ThiefThe Sex Thief is a 1973 British sex film starring David Warbeck, Diane Keen and Christopher Biggins. It was an early film credit for director Martin Campbell....
(1973) as Meter Attendant - The Haunted House of HorrorThe Haunted House of Horror (1969 film)The Haunted House of Horror, also titled Horror House and The Dark, was an early type of teen "slasher film" set in late 60's England. It starred Frankie Avalon and Jill Haworth as young adults looking for a thrill by spending the night in an old mansion in the English countryside. Although...
(1969) as Madge
| Year | Television | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | City Central | Jackie Tremlett |
| 1991 | The Brittas Empire The Brittas Empire The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created and originally written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss. Chris Barrie plays Gordon Brittas, the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.... |
Mrs.Phillips |
| 1989 | Precious Bane Precious Bane Precious Bane is a novel by Mary Webb, first published in 1924. It won the Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize.In 1957 it was made into a six part BBC television drama series starring Patrick Troughton and Daphne Slater... |
Mrs.Callard |
| 1986 | Farrington of the F.O. Farrington of the F.O. Farrington of the F.O. was a British television comedy series by Dick Sharples about the staff of the British Consulate in "one of the armpits of Latin America". It was produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast from 1986 to 1987... |
Tourist |
| 1980–1986 | In Loving Memory In Loving Memory (TV series) In Loving Memory is a British period sitcom set in an undertakers business that starred Thora Hird and Christopher Beeny. A pilot was transmitted in 1969 by Thames Television who rejected the idea before it was finally accepted by Yorkshire Television in 1979 where it further ran for five series... |
Cynthia |
| 1981–1983 | 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... |
Marion Willis |