13 British TV Actresses Who Were Nothing Like They Seemed

They were in our living rooms every week, and we thought we knew exactly who they were. We didn't know the half of it. The fearsome Nora Batty, who was nothing like Nora. The Emmerdale matriarch who kept a wartime secret for more than fifty years. The cockney comedy favourite who wrote a best-selling novel. The Upstairs, Downstairs maid who helped create the whole show. And the 1960s pin-up who kept her fan mail unopened in the boot of her car, fought one of television's first battles for equal pay, and could not bear to watch herself on screen. From Anna Wing, Kathy Staff and Irene Handl to Betty Driver, Violet Carson, Jean Marsh, Yootha Joyce, June Brown, Honor Blackman, Wendy Richard and Diana Rigg, these are thirteen much-loved British TV actresses and the real women behind the parts. Every story comes from their own words, their families and the published record. Which surprise did you never see coming? And who should be in Part 2? Tell us in the comments. Like and subscribe for more true stories of the stars we grew up with. Note: A respectful documentary retrospective made for historical and educational purposes. All accounts are attributed to published sources.