Thelma Barlow, born Thelma Pigott, is a renowned English television actress and writer, best recognized for her iconic roles as Mavis Wilton in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street and as Dolly Bellfield in the popular sitcom Dinnerladies.
Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, Thelma was the younger of two daughters. Her father, Tommy, a skilled cabinet maker, sadly passed away just five weeks before her birth due to pneumonia. Thelma was raised by her mother, Margaret, and the family relocated to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, during her childhood.
Thelma left school at the age of 15 and pursued a career in shorthand and typing at Huddersfield Technical College. She secured her first job as a secretary, which she held for eight years while simultaneously being an active member of an amateur dramatics group.
Thelma decided to take up acting professionally and joined the renowned Joan Littlewood Theatre Group. During the 1950s, she performed in repertory theatre productions in Liverpool, Nottingham, and Birmingham. In 1960, she joined the West of England Theatre Company, followed by the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company. In Bristol, she even ran a boarding house for fellow actors.
In 1956, Thelma married set designer Graham Barlow, with whom she had two children, Clive and James. They eventually divorced in 1983.
Thelma's first television appearance was in the 1970s drama A Stranger on the Hill. The following year, while performing in Liverpool, she was approached to audition for the soap opera Coronation Street for the role of Mavis Riley. She successfully landed the part and her first episode aired on August 14, 1971, although her character did not become a regular until 1973, when she joined the staff of "The Kabin". Thelma remained in the series for an impressive 26 years, appearing in nearly 2,000 episodes, until she left after the departure of her on-screen husband Derek. Her final episode was broadcast on October 10, 1997, when Mavis moved to the Lake District.
During her time on Coronation Street, Thelma shared a flat with co-star Helen Worth and later relocated to Settle, where she even hosted a TV show from her garden.
Thelma's next notable role was as Dolly Bellfield in Victoria Wood's sitcom Dinnerladies, which aired for two series from 1998 to 2000.
Since her departure from Coronation Street, Thelma has continued to make stage appearances.
In June 2014, Thelma narrated the 30-minute documentary "Gail & Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street", which celebrated Helen Worth's remarkable career on Coronation Street as Gail Platt.
