Coronation Street star Lynne Verrall has died at the age of 76, after a 50 year career spanning TV and theatre.
She was best known for playing Geraldine Spellman, the mother of Drew Spellman (Tom Godwin), on the ITV soap in 2017 and also had stage roles at London’s Royal Court.
The actress died in Paris on November 8 after battling motor neurone disease. She was diagnosed with MND shortly after filming her 2023 comedy-drama Greek Salad.
‘Lynne was always ready to try any role, to grow and learn and develop. She embraced life to the full,’ her agent Samantha Boyd told The Stage.
A French fundraising page has been set up in her memory, to help fight motor neurone disease.
It reads: ‘Our dear friend Lynne faced MND with her trademark wit and courage — and even in the toughest moments, she never lost her spark (or her sense of humour).
Coronation Street star Lynne Verrall has died at the age of 76, after a50 year career spanning TV and theatre
She was best known for playing Geraldine Spellman on the ITV soap in 2017 (pictured with Sue Cleaver in the soap)
‘In true Lynne fashion, she even left a gift in her will to ARSLA, the MND association here in Paris, to help others facing this awful illness.
‘If you’d like to honour her memory — and give this disease the middle finger (ARSLA’s brilliant campaign slogan!) — you might consider a small donation to support their work.
‘I can just imagine Lynne laughing at that and saying, ‘that’s the spirit — don’t make a fuss, but thank you, darling’.’
Alongside Coronation Street, Lynne also appeared in Doctors, Father Brown and ITV drama Innocent.
Away from the screen Lynne had a successful stage career.
After graduating from the Birmingham School of Acting, the Shropshire-raised star started her theatre career, touring with the New Shakespeare Company as as understudy for Celia in As You Like It.
She joined Sue Dunderdale’s touring company Pentabus in 1974 and went onto perform in three tours across the UK.
Lynne also starred in Joe Penhall’s Pale Horse at London’s Royal Court before working with the Clean Break theatre company from 2005.
After appearing in Carrie Cracknell’s 2012 revival of A Doll’s House at London’s Young Vic, the actress moved to Paris and took on roles in a number of short films there.
In 2023, Lynne landed the role of Kelly Reilly’s mother in the comedy–drama Greek Salad, from French director Cédric Klapisch.
Her longtime friend and theatre collaborator Sue Dunderdale paid tribute to Lynne’s courage in the face of her MND diagnosis in 2023.
‘She faced it with incredible courage. She was extraordinary. She remained in Paris because she’d been happy there. She created this wonderful persona of an eccentric, charming Englishwoman.’
Sue added: ‘She was a fantastic actor but never got the recognition she deserved.’
