Julie Goodyear's early life was marked by adversity, as her father abandoned the family shortly after her birth, and she was subsequently raised by her stepfather, Bill Goodyear, a publican who owned The Bay House in Haywood. To support her aspirations of becoming a model, Julie worked behind her stepfather's bar, where she developed a strong work ethic and gained valuable experience in customer service.
As she entered adulthood, Julie's modeling career began to take off, and she landed various bit parts and a six-week stint as Bet Lynch on the popular British soap opera Coronation Street. During this time, she received guidance from the show's star, Patricia Phoenix, who advised her to pursue formal acting training. Julie heeded this advice and joined The Oldham Repertory Company, where she formed a lifelong friendship with Phoenix that would last until the latter's passing.
Julie's subsequent career was marked by a variety of straight and comedic roles on stage and television, and she eventually returned to Coronation Street in a regular role. In her personal life, Julie married company secretary Tony Rudman in 1973, but the union was short-lived and was annulled shortly after the wedding reception.
In 1979, Julie received a devastating diagnosis: she had cervical cancer and would require two operations. She underwent treatment and eventually made a full recovery, but the experience left her with a newfound appreciation for life and a desire to give back to her community. In 1985, Julie married airline executive Richard Skrob, but the marriage ended in divorce just two years later due to the distance between them.
Julie's personal struggles were followed by a period of philanthropic work, as she founded a charity to support the establishment of a smear testing center in Manchester. Although she was later accused of fraud and found not guilty, Julie continued to raise money for her cause, and the Julie Goodyear Laboratory was eventually established at The Christie Hospital in Manchester.
In 1987, Julie took a temporary leave of absence from Coronation Street to care for her mother, who was battling terminal cancer. She eventually returned to the show, but her final appearance was in October 1995. Julie has since made a few guest appearances on the series, but her legacy as Bet Lynch remains an integral part of Coronation Street's history.
