CORRIE star Lynne Verrall has died aged 76 after a 50 year career spanning stage and screen.
Lynne saw success in theatre and TV, especially with the role of Geraldine Spellman on Coronation Street in 2017.
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The prolific actress passed away in Paris two years after her motor neurone diagnosisCredit: ITV
Lynne Verrall has passed away at age 76Credit: Dan Wooller
The actress died in Paris on November 8 after battling a long illness.
Her agent Samantha Boyd said: “Lynne was always ready to try any role, to grow and learn and develop. She embraced life to the full,” industry magazine The Stage has reported.
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).
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“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’.”
The Corrie star was born in March 1949, and grew up in Wellington, Shropshire before training at Birmingham School of Acting.
After graduating, Lynne toured with the New Shakespeare Company as an understudy for the role of Celia in As You Like It.
She was one of the original acting members in Pentabus, a touring company started by Sue Dunderdale in 1974 based in the Midlands.
Lynne performed in three tours across the UK including a show about Charlie Chaplin where she took on several roles.
Throughout the 1990s Lynne worked at Theatr Clwyd in Entertaining Mr Sloane, directed by Dominic Cooke and in Dora Eqqus, directed by Dominic Cooke.
She later acted in Joe Penhall’s Pale Horse, directed by Ian Rickson at London’s Royal Court.
Lynne then worked with Clean Break theatre company in Mercy Fine in 2005.
A stand-out stage memory was being cast as Anna in Carrie Cracknell’s revival of A Doll’s House at London‘s Young Vic in 2012.
Lynne then moved to Paris in 2012 and appeared as an elegant Englishwoman in several short films in France.
Following several roles on television in the 1970s and 1980s, Lynne landed the role of Geraldine Spellman in Coronation Street (2017-2018).
She appeared on the show intermittently from June 2017 and March 2018.
French director Cédric Klapisch cast Lynne as Kelly Reilly’s mother in the comedy–drama Greek Salad (2023).
Shortly after filming wrapped, Lynne was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Her lifelong friend Dunderdale said, “She faced it with incredible courage. She was extraordinary.
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“She remained in Paris because she’d been happy there. She created this wonderful persona of an eccentric, charming Englishwoman.”
She added: “She was a fantastic actor but never got the recognition she deserved.”
Lynne first appeared on Coronation Street in 2017Credit: ITV
Lynne had a successful career both on stage and screenCredit: ITV
