Anne Reid has been awarded a CBE for her services to drama (Image: BBC/Wild Mercury/Amanda Searle)
star Anne Ried has become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year Honour’s List for her services to drama.
The TV legend, 89, is best known for her iconic role as Valerie Barlow – Ken Barlow’s first wife – on the famous cobbles. The beloved actor was born in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne before she moved to Redcar during World War II.
Anne’s love for theatre began early on in life when her elocution teacher saw her talent and helped her get into Royal Academy of Dramatic Art or RADA.
After graduating from the performing arts school, she began a career as a stage manager, but it wasn’t long before she was stepping into the limelight herself.
She made her TV debut in several sketches with Benny Hill and on Hancock’s Half Hour. However, she became a household name when she took on the role of Valerie in .
She rose to fame on Coronation Street as Ken Barlow’s first wife (Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
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Anne starred on the long-running from 1962 to 1970 before she bid farewell to the iconic Manchester set after her character was sensationally killed by an electric shock while using a hairdryer.
Since her exit, she has gone on to share the screen with some of the biggest names in showbusiness including David Tennant, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson.
The actress later revealed she decided to leave Weatherfield because she didn’t want to spend her career playing the same role after nearly 10 years on the show.
In 2011, the actress told the Radio Times her reason behind her unexpected exit from the show. She told the outlet that she left the show to follow her passion for comedy, something she wasn’t able to pursue on the soap.
Anne explained: “Daring, I was a basket case when I left! I’d already had too much of it. That kind of work suits some people, but it didn’t suit me. It was my decision to leave and I was desperate, really desperate, to go.
“Because I knew I was good at comedy and there was no way that Valerie Barlow was ever going to be funny.” And the actress did just that, regularly working with Victoria Wood on many of her projects, including Victoria Wood as Seen on TV, and Pat and Margaret in 1994.
After achieving her comedy fix, she went on to star in more serious sitcoms such as Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who and The Last Tango in Halifax.
She has also made several appearances on the big screen, including credits in Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995), Love and Death on Long Island (1997) and Hot Fuzz (2007).
One surprising role viewers will be surprised to know is her forgotten role in Love Actually (2003). She played a minor role as a lesbian headmistress, however her scenes were ultimately cut from the film. Fans can still watch them on the Love Actually DVD.