Anna Cropper
Anna Cropper (13 May 1938 – 22 January 2007) was an English stage and television actress.
Anna Cropper | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 May 1938 Brierfield, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 22 January 2007 (aged 68) Tangmere, West Sussex, England |
| Other names | Anna Roache |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | (divorced) |
| Children |
|
Early years
Cropper was born in Brierfield, Lancashire, the daughter of Margaret, a stage actress and director, and Jack Cropper, a dentist.[1] The family lived on Todmorden Road in Burnley during her early life.[2]
Career
Cropper studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She made her television debut as Chrysalis in The Insect Play (1960), based on the 1921 play by Czech brothers Josef and Karel Čapek. She appeared in Emergency Ward 10 three times and on Coronation Street three times in 1962.[3]
She came to prominence playing a young schizophrenic in the television play In Two Minds (The Wednesday Play, BBC, 1967) by David Mercer.[4] which won the Writers' Guild Award for the Best Television Play of 1967.[1]
Her film roles included appearances in All Neat in Black Stockings (1968), Cromwell (1970) and Nanou (1986). In 1972 she starred in the television production of The Exorcism and in 1975 took over the lead role in the West End stage version when actress Mary Ure died of an overdose following the play's opening night.[5]
She played Mary Hodgson, the nurse of the boys who inspired the creation of Peter Pan in the BBC docudrama The Lost Boys (1978). Other television roles included two episodes of the BBC's Play for Today, as Norah Palmer in the James MacTaggart-directed Robin Redbreast (1970), a Christmas supernatural thriller by John Bowen[6] and Dennis Potter's play Schmoedipus (1974).[7]
She appeared in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and featured in Anna of the Five Towns (1985) a 4-part BBC period drama. Her last television credit is for an episode of Midsomer Murders entitled Death's Shadow (1999).[1]
Marriage
She was married to the Coronation Street actor William Roache in 1961. The marriage ended in divorce in 1974. They had two children, son Linus Roache and daughter Vanya.[8]
Death
Cropper died suddenly of a heart attack in January 2007, aged 68, at her home in Tangmere, West Sussex.[9] Her daughter, Vanya, died on 2 March 2018 aged 50.[10]
Selected television
| Year | Title | Role | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Insect Play | Chrysalis | |
| 1967 | Angel Pavement | Miss Cadham | |
| 1967 | In Two Minds | Kate Winter | David Mercer |
| 1970 | Robin Redbreast | Norah Palmer | John Bowen |
| 1972 | The Exorcism | John Bowen | |
| 1972 | The Moonstone | Rosanna Spearman | |
| 1975 | Schmoedipus | Dennis Potter | |
| 1978 | The Lost Boys | Mary Hodgson | |
| 1984 | The Jewel in the Crown | ||
| 1985 | Anna of the Five Towns | ||
| 1986 | Nemesis (Miss Marple) | Anthea Bradbury-Scott |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | All Neat in Black Stockings | Sis | |
| 1970 | Cromwell | Ruth Carter | |
| 1986 | Nanou | Nanou's mother | |
| 1994 | Don't Get Me Started | Mother | Voice, Uncredited |
References
- Hayward, Anthony (2 February 2007). "Anna Cropper Cutting-edge television actress". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
- Hewitt, Andrew (5 February 2007). "Tributes to screen star Anna Cropper". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- Obituary, The Burnley Citizen; accessed 12 June 2018.
- Philip Purser. "Anna Cropper Insightful actor at her best in haunted roles". London, UK: The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
- "'Exorcism' successor", The Times page 4, 8 April 1975
- BBC Genome - Radio Times listing for 10 December 1970
- BBC Genome - Radio Times listing for 20 June 1974
- "Anna Cropper". London, UK: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- Hewitt, Andrew (5 February 2007). "Tributes to screen star Anna". Burnley Citizen. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- Kindon, Frances; Swettenham, Lee (7 March 2018). "Daughter of Coronation Street star Bill Roache, Vanya, dies aged 50". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
