Maria Charles dead: Coronation Street star who appeared in Hot Fuzz and Skins dies aged 93 as tributes pour in
TRIBUTES have poured in for Coronation Street star Maria Charles, who has died at the age of 93.
Maria found fame in the West End starring in musicals and enjoyed a long and successful career on stage and screen.
She was perhaps best known for her role in the sitcom Agony as Bea Fisher, the mother of Maureen Lipman’s character Jane Lucas.
Maria appeared throughout the show’s original run from 1979 to 1981 and in the 1995 sequel Agony Again.
She also held the roles of Lina Thistlewood in ITV’s Coronation Street in 2005, Mrs Reaper in 2007’s Hot Fuzz and Noreeen Biggs in Bad Girls in 2002 and 2003.
Viewers of the iconic soap may remember her brief love of Ken Barlow and the scene in which she walked in on Tyrone Dobbs and Maria Connor having sex.
Fans took to social media to share their tributes to the TV legend, with one writing: “RIP Maria Charles. She was fantastic in Bad Girls as Noreen Biggs. Great actress.”
Another tweeted: “RIP lovely lady.”
Meanwhile a third said: “RIP the lovely Maria Charles, who played feisty Noreen Biggs in both Bad Girls and Bad Girls the Musical in the West End. She was so much fun, a true pro with a naughty glint in her eye. Such a long illustrious career and always so lovely to be around.”
Born Maria Scheneider, she was raised by Jewish Parents in London.
She took her screen name from her local hairdresser, known as Mr Charles.
After working in a number of hairdressers and beauty parlours, she went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) between 1944 and 1946.
She even tutored James Bond star Daniel Craig for the drama school audition that kickstarted his career.
Maria wed fellow actor Robin Hunter in 1952, but they divorced in 1966.
She is survived by her two daughters, Kelly and Samantha and two grandchildren Albert and Charlie.