Maudie Edwards
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2020) |
Maudie Edwards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Maud Edwards 16 October 1906 |
| Died | 24 March 1991 (aged 84) London, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1910-1972[1] |
Elizabeth Maud Edwards (16 October 1906 – 24 March 1991), professionally known as Maudie Edwards, was a Welsh-born actress, radio broadcaster, comedian, dancer and singer, best known for her career in England and best remembered for speaking the first line of dialogue in soap opera Coronation Street, appearing for the first 2 episodes as shopkeeper Elsie Lappin[1][2] Prior to Corrie, she was best known to radio listeners of the program Welsh Rarebit, that attracted 10 million viewers weekly[1]
Career
Born in 16 Florence St. Neath, Glamorgan, Wales,[3] to semi-professional comedian and singer Ned Edwards, she appeared on stage at aged 4 with sister May, as Ned Edwards Two Little Queenies[1]. Edwards had a talent for comedy and formed her own repertory company, The Maudie Edwards Players, who performed in the Palace Theatre, Swansea. In films of the 1940s, she provided a singing voice for film stars Diana Dors and Margaret Lockwood and Gene Tierney[1] She made her first screen appearance in 1936 and her last in 1972. In 1950, she appeared on stage with Frank Sinatra at the London Palladium. She played Elsie Lappin in the first two episodes of British soap opera Coronation Street in 1960 and was the first performer to speak during the first scene in the show's history: "Now the next thing you've got to do is to get a signwriter in - that thing above the door'll have to be changed."
She died in London, England aged 84 in 1991.
Filmography
- The Flying Doctor (1936)
- My Learned Friend (1943)
- The Shipbuilders (1943)
- I'll Be Your Sweetheart (1945) (singing voice of Margaret Lockwood)[1]
- Query (1945)
- Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945)
- Walking on Air (1946)
- School for Randle (1949)
- Girdle of Gold (1952)
- Diamond City dubbed singing voice of Diana Dors[1]
- Take a Powder (1953)
- The Strange World of Planet X (TV series 1956)
- The Errol Flynn Theatre (TV series 1956)
- Life at Stake (1957)
- The Ugly Duckling (1959)
- Coronation Street (TV series 1960)
- The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (TV series 1961)
- The Clue of the New Pin (1961)
- Only Two Can Play (1962)
- Dixon of Dock Green (TV series 1962)
- Band of Thieves (1963)
- Under Milk Wood (1972)
- Burke & Hare (1972)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Maudie Edwards 16 October 1906 – 24 March 1991". Swanseagrand.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Maudie Edwards". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Corrie star's Swan to watch if Scott joins club". WalesOnline. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
External links
- Maudie Edwards at IMDb
- The Maudie Edwards Collection is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum Theatre and Performance Department.
 | This biographical article about a British singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
  | This article about a Welsh actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |