Sue Nicholls
Encyclopedia
Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls (born 23 November 1943 in Walsall
, West Midlands
) is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts
in British soap opera Coronation Street
.
), and is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
.
.
Nicholls' second single was less successful and she embarked on a career in a cabaret, performing her solo act all over the country. She returned to the stage in a variety of popular plays and pantomimes. During the 1970s, Sue had two very different stints aboard. In Vienna she sang between strip acts at a nightclub while in 1976 she toured America and Canada with the Royal Shakespeare company in London Assurance, finishing with a six-week run on Broadway.
She was also popular in the role of the secretary, Joan Greengross (later Webster and Millbeck) in the sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
and its 1996 sequel The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, as well as gaining popularity with younger TV viewers for her roles as Nadia Popov in Rentaghost
and Mrs Muddle in Pipkins
TV series.
However, it is as Audrey in Coronation Street as an occasional visitor since April 1979, and a full-time permanent character since 1985, that has been her most enduring role.
, former Conservative MP
for Peterborough
(1950–1974) and MEP for Greater Manchester
South (1979–1984), and a life peer
, and she is thus entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable
Susan Nicholls".
She is married to Mark Eden
, who she acted alongside for a time in Coronation Street when he played the role of Alan Bradley
.
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
) is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sue Nicholls, the character first appeared during the episode aired on 16 April 1979....
in British 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...
.
Early life
Nicholls was educated at the School of St. Mary and St. Anne (now known as Abbots Bromley School for GirlsAbbots Bromley School for Girls
Abbots Bromley School for Girls is an independent, fee-paying school for girls aged 3–18 located in the village of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England...
), and is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
.
Career
Nicholls first became known as Marilyn Gates in the soap Crossroads, a role she played from 1964 to 1968. A song she first sang on the programme, "Where Will You Be?", charted on 3 July 1968, eventually reaching number 17 in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Nicholls' second single was less successful and she embarked on a career in a cabaret, performing her solo act all over the country. She returned to the stage in a variety of popular plays and pantomimes. During the 1970s, Sue had two very different stints aboard. In Vienna she sang between strip acts at a nightclub while in 1976 she toured America and Canada with the Royal Shakespeare company in London Assurance, finishing with a six-week run on Broadway.
She was also popular in the role of the secretary, Joan Greengross (later Webster and Millbeck) in the sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is a series of novels which developed into a British sitcom starring Leonard Rossiter in the title role...
and its 1996 sequel The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, as well as gaining popularity with younger TV viewers for her roles as Nadia Popov in Rentaghost
Rentaghost
Rentaghost is a British children's television comedy show, broadcast by the BBC between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the ghosts for various tasks.-Background:The company,...
and Mrs Muddle in Pipkins
Pipkins
Pipkins was a British children's TV programme. Hartley Hare, Pig, Topov and the gang were the stars of ATV's pre-school series which ran from January 1973 to 29 December 1981....
TV series.
However, it is as Audrey in Coronation Street as an occasional visitor since April 1979, and a full-time permanent character since 1985, that has been her most enduring role.
Personal life
Nicholls' father was Lord Harmar-NichollsHarmar Nicholls
Harmar Harmar-Nicholls, Baron Harmar-Nicholls , known as Sir Harmar Nicholls, 1st Baronet, from 1960 to 1975, was a British Conservative Party politician.-Early life and career:...
, former Conservative MP
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
for Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
(1950–1974) and MEP for Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
South (1979–1984), and a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
, and she is thus entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Susan Nicholls".
She is married to Mark Eden
Mark Eden
Mark Eden is a British actor.-Career:Born in London, Eden has appeared in repertory theatre in England and Wales and at the Royal Court Theatre. His many television and film roles include the Doctor Who serial Marco Polo in which he played Marco Polo...
, who she acted alongside for a time in Coronation Street when he played the role of Alan Bradley
Alan Bradley
Alan Bradley is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street. He was played by Mark Eden.Alan is one of the most famous villains in the history of the Street. He made his first appearance in 1986 when his wife Pat was killed in a road accident...
.
Awards
- British Soap Awards 2000 (Best Comedy Performance)
- British Soap Awards 2003 (Best Dramatic Performance)
- British Soap Awards 2003 (Hero of the Year)
External links
- Sue Nicholls Page
- What's on TV profile
- Coronation Street's Sue Nicholls - RTÉ Guide profile