Elizabeth Dawn

Infobox actor
name= Liz Dawn MBE


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birthdate= Birth date and age|1939|11|8
birthplace= Leeds, England
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occupation= Actress
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gender= Female
status= Married
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credits= Vera Duckworth
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Elizabeth Dawn MBE (better known as Liz Dawn, born Sylvia Butterfield on November 8, 1939 in Leeds, England), is an English actress, best known for her role as Vera Duckworth in the long running British soap opera, "Coronation Street". First starting on the serial in 1974, she had more of a recurring role as a factory worker until her husband, Jack, (played by William Tarmey) first appeared in 1979 and later for a more concrete role in 1983.

Dawn started her showbusiness career as a nightclub singer. By the late 1960s Dawn had ventured into acting, often taking small parts in television programmes as well as advertisements. During the 1970s she appeared in a variety of programmes including "All Creatures Great and Small" and Colin Welland's play "Leeds United".

She was also one of the alien voices in the Cadbury's Smash advertisements in the 1970s.

In January 1990, Dawn was featured on "This is Your Life".

Dawn published her autobiography Vera Duckworth – My Story in 1993 [ [http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/coronation_street/whos_who/vera_duckworth Profile at What's on TV] URL accessed 2007-11-12]

In 2000, Dawn was chosen as the Lady Mayoress of Leeds [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/features/great_loiners/liz_dawn.shtml BBC Profile] URL accessed:2007-11-12] and was awarded an MBE in October of that year for her services to charity, having helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for hospitals in the Manchester and Leeds area. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/987967.stm BBC News - Street star receives MBE] . URL accessed 2007-05-25.]

In mid-2004, Dawn was diagnosed with the incurable lung disease emphysema. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4257678.stm BBC News - Corrie star battles lung disease] . URL accessed 2007-05-10.] On 22 July 2007, Granada Television (makers of "Coronation Street") announced that Dawn was to be written out - at her own request - before Christmas, due to further complications with emphysema.

Her final appearance came in the episode screened on 18 January 2008, when Vera Duckworth died in her sleep, thus ending 33 years of the popular, iconic character. Bill Tarmey, who plays on screen husband Jack Duckworth, will continue to be a part of the cast of "Coronation Street". Dawn stated that the hardest thing about leaving "Corrie" was saying good-bye to Tarmey, with whom she is best friends. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a70190/dawn-struggles-to-leave-corrie-co-star.html Soaps - News - Dawn struggles to leave Corrie co-star - Digital Spy ] ]

Liz won the Special Achievement Award at the 2008 British Soap Awards for her 33-year long portrayal of her iconic character.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206005/ Elizabeth Dawn] at the Internet Movie Database
* [http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/dawn_liz.html Profile of Elizabeth Dawn at corrie.net]
* [http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/soaps/2007/08/06/liz-dawn-exclusive-89520-19576559/ Profile at Mirror.co.uk]
* [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vera-Duckworth-Story-Liz-Dawn/dp/1857820436 Vera Duckworth: My Story at amazon.co.uk]