Meg Johnson (actress)

Margaret Mary Foster (30 September 1936 – 1 July 2023), better known as Meg Johnson, was an English actress. Over a career spanning almost six decades, she became known for her soap opera roles as Eunice Gee in ''Coronation Street'', Brigid McKenna in ''Brookside'', and Pearl Ladderbanks in ''Emmerdale''. She also appeared in musicals including ''Chicago'' and ''Follies''.

Early life

Johnson was born Margaret Mary Green in Manchester on 30 September 1936 to Eleanor (''née'' James), a former bus conductor, and Stan Green, a brewery foreman. Johnson was evacuated to Bolton during World War II and made her stage debut there, aged six, singing and dancing at the Grand theatre. After developing asthma, she began singing lessons to improve her breathing.

Career

Johnson's first professional acting role came in May 1961, when she was 24, in a television series titled ''Here's Harry''. She continued in the show until 1964. Subsequent roles included ''Family Solicitor'' (1961) and ''The Referees'' (1961). Johnson first appeared in a few episodes of the ITV television soap opera ''Coronation Street'' in 1972 as a tipsy woman and in 1976 as Brenda Holden, before being cast as Eunice Gee in 1981, a role she would play with recurring appearances until 1999.

In the 1980s, Johnson worked with Victoria Wood, appearing in several episodes of her shows '' Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV'', as well as '' Victoria Wood Presents''. In 1997, Johnson appeared in the West End theatre revival of ''Chicago'' as Mama Morton. She also appeared in theatre productions of ''Follies'' and ''Gypsy''.

From 2000 to 2003, Johnson appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Brookside'' as Brigid McKenna until the soap's cancellation. Later in 2003, Johnson was cast as Pearl Ladderbanks in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', although due to the number of episodes per week of ''Brookside'' being reduced in its later months, her last appearances as Brigid aired after she had already been seen on screen as Pearl. Johnson played the role of Pearl until March 2020.

Personal life

In 1956, Johnson married Hibbert Johnson. The marriage produced a son and a daughter, but later ended in divorce.

Johnson was married to English actor and ITV Granada presenter Charles Foster from 1981 until his death on 23 February 2023.

Death

Johnson died at a care home in Rochdale called the Willows on 1 July 2023, aged 86. In a statement, her family said that she "had dementia for the last few years, but battled on personally and professionally regardless". ''Emmerdale'' paid tribute to her on its social media accounts, describing Johnson as "a kind and wonderful lady, full of warmth and always with a twinkle in her eye" and added that she would be "greatly missed by everyone who knew her".

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Meg
1936 births
2023 deaths
20th-century English actresses
21st-century English actresses
Actresses from Manchester
Deaths from dementia in England
English soap opera actresses
English stage actresses
English television actresses