Amanda Barrie admits ‘I’ve lost so many friends’ as Coronation Street legend turns 91
Amanda Barrie, the iconic Coronation Street star famed for portraying Alma Baldwin, is marking her 91st birthday, a milestone she acknowledges comes with a bittersweet reality.
Speaking to The Mirror, the actress revealed the emotional weight of outliving so many of those closest to her.
“I’ve lost so many friends,” she said.
“And I never delete people from my phone who’ve died. I’ve got a full phone.”
Amanda Barrie has been in showbusiness for over six decades | GETTY
Despite the losses, Ms Barrie considers herself fortunate to have reached 91 and to still be working after more than seven decades in the entertainment industry.
Her rise to fame began in the 1960s when she took on the role of Cleopatra in the comedy film Carry On Cleo, establishing herself as a recognisable face in British cinema.
She went on to join the cast of ITV’s long-running soap, first appearing as Alma in 1981 and spending two decades on the cobbles.
During that time, Alma became one of the programme’s most iconic characters, with her marriage to Mike Baldwin, portrayed by Johnny Briggs, placing her at the heart of several major plotlines.
Ms Barrie rose to prominence after playing Cleopatra in Carry On Cleo
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GETTYThe character’s story came to a devastating conclusion when Alma was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and Ms Barrie filmed her final scenes for the soap in 2001.
More than two decades on, she remains closely identified with the role that cemented her status as a household name.
Beyond Weatherfield, Ms Barrie went on to appear in programmes including Bad Girls, Benidorm and Casualty.
She stepped back into the spotlight through reality television when she took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.
The Coronation Street legend has reflected on the friends she has lost over the years
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BBC Coronation Street
Her memoir, I’m Still Here, has given readers a deeper look into her life and lengthy career.
Most recently, she featured in a promotional campaign celebrating Irn-Bru’s 125th anniversary, which saw her riding a distinctive orange scooter at a London event.
Ms Barrie has also spoken warmly about the enduring significance of the soap that made her famous.
“We need things like Coronation Street, because everything’s so sort of isolated now,” she told The Mirror.
“And I think things like Coronation Street really bring people together.”
Ms Barrie has been open about her personal life, including her bisexuality and her relationship with crime writer Hilary Bonner, whom she married in 2014.
The couple have remained physically active, with Ms Barrie saying she enjoys staying busy and trying new things.
That philosophy extends to her professional outlook as well.
The actress believes Coronation Street continues to bring people together
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GETTY
She has emphasised the value of maintaining curiosity and refusing to let apprehension stand in the way of fresh challenges.
Throughout her career, the actress has performed alongside some of the most celebrated names in British entertainment, remaining a familiar presence for successive generations of viewers.
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