Actress. An early cast member of "Coronation Street", she is best remembered for her run of more than 20 years during which she told stories to young children on the BBC's "Listen with Mother". The child of a middle class family, she was raised in north London, broke into show business at 13, studied at the Embassy School of Acting, Swiss Cottage, London, then during World War II worked in a bank while gaining stage experience by entertaining the troops. Daphne got her start in radio in 1947 with "Let's Join In" then in 1949 received her first television credit on "Oranges and Lemons"; 1950 saw her first appearances on "Listen with Mother", her greeting "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin" becoming a well-known signature. She was kept busy with television and stage performances, was a regular on Grenada Television's "What the Papers Say" for 30 years, and in 1960 became Esther Hayes in the second episode of "Coronation Street", remaining in the cast for three years and continuing guest appearnces until 1972. Daphnie was in a few movies including "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" (1969) and 1974's "All Creatures Great and Small", had a two year gig on "To the Manor Born" (1979-1981), and remained active well into advanced years. She was seen as the Queen Mother in a 2002 American biopic of Prince William, continued working even after moving into a retirement home following the 2003 death of her husband David Marshall, and earned her final credits in 2008 episodes of the iconic series "Doctor Who". At her demise from the infirmities of age a number of her performances were preserved on DVD.
Actress. An early cast member of "Coronation Street", she is best remembered for her run of more than 20 years during which she told stories to young children on the BBC's "Listen with Mother". The child of a middle class family, she was raised in north London, broke into show business at 13, studied at the Embassy School of Acting, Swiss Cottage, London, then during World War II worked in a bank while gaining stage experience by entertaining the troops. Daphne got her start in radio in 1947 with "Let's Join In" then in 1949 received her first television credit on "Oranges and Lemons"; 1950 saw her first appearances on "Listen with Mother", her greeting "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin" becoming a well-known signature. She was kept busy with television and stage performances, was a regular on Grenada Television's "What the Papers Say" for 30 years, and in 1960 became Esther Hayes in the second episode of "Coronation Street", remaining in the cast for three years and continuing guest appearnces until 1972. Daphnie was in a few movies including "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" (1969) and 1974's "All Creatures Great and Small", had a two year gig on "To the Manor Born" (1979-1981), and remained active well into advanced years. She was seen as the Queen Mother in a 2002 American biopic of Prince William, continued working even after moving into a retirement home following the 2003 death of her husband David Marshall, and earned her final credits in 2008 episodes of the iconic series "Doctor Who". At her demise from the infirmities of age a number of her performances were preserved on DVD.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Advertisement
