Barbara Ferris death: Coronation Street actress dies aged 85
Former model and Coronation Street actress Barbara Ferris has died aged 85.
The 85-year-old died on May 23, 2025 after a decades-long career in entertainment.
Ferris played barmaid Nona Willis at the Rovers Return in Coronation Street in 1962.
Her stint on the popular soap opera was brief but memorable, appearing in just 10 episodes before departing the show.
Ferris left Coronation Street after struggling to understand the Lancashire accents of her fellow cast members
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The actress began her career as a model before transitioning into acting, with her Coronation Street role marking one of her early television appearances in the long-running drama series.
Ferris left the ITV soap after struggling to understand the Lancashire accents of her fellow cast members.
She found the regional dialect too difficult to follow, which ultimately led to her departure from the soap.
Film enthusiasts may better remember Ferris for her role as Dinah in the 1965 movie Catch Us If You Can.
She played the love interest who eloped with Dave Clark in the musical comedy film.
Her acting career spanned several decades, with her final screen appearance coming in 1990’s The Krays, directed by Peter Medak.
Following this role, Ferris stepped away from acting to focus on her family life.
Ferris was born in London to Dorothy and Roy Ferris, the youngest of two children
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Ferris was born in London to Dorothy and Roy Ferris, the youngest of two children.
She attended the Italia Conti stage school, where she took on pantomimes and commercials to support her family.
In 1960, she married film producer John Quested. The newlyweds had little time to celebrate, with their honeymoon lasting just one night at The Dorchester before being cut short by Ferris’s imminent professional stage debut.
Her younger sister Liz achieved athletic acclaim as a springboard diving champion, winning bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Ferris later left acting behind to focus on raising her children and accompanying her husband on international work trips, with the couple settling in homes across Ireland, Zurich, and London.
Following news of her passing, fans have shared touching tributes and vintage photos online to honour her memory
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Following news of her passing, fans have shared touching tributes and vintage photos online to honour her memory.
One wrote: “Absolutely gutted to hear about Barbara Ferris. She had such a quiet grace on screen — Catch Us If You Can was a core memory from my childhood. Rest easy, Dinah.”
Another echoed: “RIP to Barbara Ferris – unforgettable in The Krays. That voice, that presence. We were lucky to have her, even if briefly.”
Someone else wrote: “Barbara was one of the kindest, most generous actors I ever worked with. Her laughter lit up every set we shared. It was an honour just to be around her.”
Ferris is survived by her husband John Quested and their three children: Nicholas, Christopher, and Catherine.
