Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Driver, MBE was a renowned British actress and singer, best known for her iconic role as Betty Williams (formerly Betty Turpin) on the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1969 to 2011, appearing in over 2,800 episodes.
She began her professional career at the age of 8, forced by her mother to perform with the Terence Byron Repertory Theatre Company. By 10, she was singing for the BBC, and at 12, she started touring across the UK in her first revue.
At 14, Driver was spotted by agent Bert Aza, who booked her for the lead in a revival of Mr Tower Of London. She also caught the attention of George Formby, who wanted her to appear in their new film Boots! Boots!, although she was eventually replaced by Beryl Formby.
Driver continued to perform, appearing in West End shows and films, including Penny Paradise and Let's Be Famous. She became a ballad singer and toured the country in variety shows, eventually parting ways with her mother.
During World War II, Driver entertained troops with ENSA and appeared on radio shows, including Henry Hall's Guest Night and her own show, A Date with Betty. She recorded many popular tunes and became an established singer.
In the 1960s, Driver auditioned for Coronation Street, but was initially rejected. She later appeared in the spin-off Pardon the Expression alongside Arthur Lowe, but retired after a back injury. She was persuaded to return to Coronation Street in 1969, playing the role of Betty Turpin for over 40 years.
Driver was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1976 and wrote a memoir, Betty, published in 2000. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1999 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards in 2010.
Driver continued to work on Coronation Street until her death on October 15, 2011, at the age of 91, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.
