Elizabeth Bradley (20 May 1922 – 30 October 2000) was an English actress. She played Maud Grimes in the British soap opera Coronation Street.

Elizabeth Bradley
Born
Joan Abraham

(1922-05-20)20 May 1922
Died30 October 2000(2000-10-30) (aged 78)
OccupationActress
Years active1940s–2000
Known forCoronation Street (1978, 1993–1999)
Spouse
Garth Adams
(m. 1950; died 1977)
Children3

Early life

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Bradley was born Joan Abraham in Macclesfield, Cheshire, the daughter of a senior civil servant, and took her father's middle name as her stage surname.[1] She started acting professionally at the age of 23.

Bradley's played wheelchair-using pensioner Maud Grimes in Coronation Street from 1993 to 1999. The character was described as a battle-axe and was once called "the mother-in-law from hell".[1] She filmed 476 episodes during this time. Bradley had previously played character Councillor Adams in the soap in 1978, but was credited then as Margaret Bradley.

She has also made TV appearances in London's Burning, The Bill, Casualty, Bad Girls and The Sweeney. Her film roles included Four Dimensions of Greta and The Flesh and Blood Show (both 1972) with director Pete Walker, and as the old woman who encounters a naked David Naughton at London Zoo in An American Werewolf in London (1981).

She was also a successful theatre actress, obtaining an Olivier Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role in a National Theatre production of Billy Liar.[2]

Personal life and death

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Bradley married actor Garth Adams in 1950, and remained with him until his death in 1977; they had three children.[2] She died after suffering a stroke, at the age of 78.[2]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 Huntingtower Series 1 Episode 3
1960 The Long Way Home Episode: "French Resistance"
1960–1962 Bonehead Second Mother / Mrs. Golightly 3 episodes
1963 Julius Caesar Plebeian Series 1 Episode 3
1963–1973 Z-Cars Various characters 5 episodes
1964 Emergency Ward 10 Mrs Tardy Episode #1.708
1966 Davy Jones' Locker Mrs Haddock
1968 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Mrs Gordon Episode: "The Equilibrium"
1969 The First Lady Alice Cobden Episode: "To Hell with Purity"
Take Three Girls Mrs Bell Episode: "Stop Acting"
1970 Daniel Deronda Mrs Gascoigne 2 episodes
1971 Television Club Mrs Smithers 2 episodes
1972 Dixon of Dock Green Mrs Wheeler Episode: "Night Beat"
Four Dimensions of Greta " Mrs Schickler
The Flesh and Blood Show Mrs Saunders
1973 Softly Softly: Task Force Mrs Thompson Episode: "No Life for a Woman"
1974 The Nine Tailors Mrs Venables 3 episodes
1975 In This House of Brede Dame Margaret
1976 No Hard Feelings Mrs Etheridge
1977 Van der Valk Hannah Episode: "Wolf"
1978 A Traveller in Time Aunt Tissey / Dame Cicely 5 episodes
The Devil's Crown Old Nun
The Sweeney Mrs Hibberd Episode: "Latin Lady"
Coronation Street Councillor Adams Credited as Margaret Bradley
1979 Blue Peter Special Assignment Elizabeth Gaskell Episode: "The Bronte's at Haworth"
Play for Today Nelly Episode: "Waterloo Sunset"
1980 Escape Madame Chauvet Episode: "The Cartland Murder"
Play for Today Episode: "Pasmore"
1981 An American Werewolf in London Woman in Zoo
Play for Today Mum Episode: "London is Drowning"
1982 Brimstone and Treacle Woman Passer by
God Speed Co-operation Mrs Burrows Television film documentary
1983 The Citadel Mrs Vidler
Tales of the Unexpected Mrs Bradley Episode: "A Sad Loss"
1984–1985 Leaving Mrs Ford 8 episodes
1985 Shine On Harvey Moon Lady in Gallery Episode: "Mud Sticks"
Juliet Bravo Mrs Grinley
Christmas Present Granny Harris
1986–1993 The Bill Various characters 4 episodes
1987 The Mistress Mourner Series 2 Episode 1
1989 Bergerac Mrs Maurice Episode: "Second Time Around"
Screenplay Nellie Episode: "A Small Mourning"
1990 The Piglet Files Mrs Russell Episode: "A Room with a View"
Casualty Edith Clarke Episode: "Street Life"
1991 Boon Gladys Swann Episode: "Bad Pennies"
1992 Resnick: Lonely Hearts Vera Barnett 3 episodes
Screen Two: Memento Mori Mrs Anthony
An Ungentlemanly Act Nanny Television film
London's Burning Stout woman Series 5 Episode 7
Screenplay Great Aunt Annie Episode: "A Little Bit of Lippy"
1993 Rides Mari
1993–1999 Coronation Street Maud Grimes
1994 Casualty Mrs Daniels Episode: "Value for Money"
A Skirt Through History Emilie Peacocke Episode: "A Lady's Portion"
2000 Bad Girls Mrs Foster Episode: "Facing Up"

References

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  1. ^ a b Dennis Barker (1 November 2000). "Elizabeth Bradley". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Street veteran 'Maud' dies". BBC News. 30 October 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
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