Rita May (actress) explained

Rita May
Birth Date:9 May 1942
Birth Place:Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1977–present
Known For:Coronation Street
Children's Ward
Trollied
Ackley Bridge

Rita May (born 9 May 1942) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Mags in the ITV children's drama Children's Ward, Margaret in the Sky One sitcom Trollied, as well as Julie "Nana" Booth in the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge.[1]

Career

May began her career as a singer on the working men's club circuit in and around South Yorkshire. She featured in the television adaptation of Barry Hines's The Price of Coal, a Play for Today first broadcast in 1977, and as Jimmy Kemp's mother in Hines's scripted nuclear war drama Threads in 1984.

She has also appeared in television series such as Early Doors and Drop Dead Gorgeous, and radio programmes including Ed Reardon's Week and The Blackburn Files. In 2005, she appeared in one episode of Heartbeat. In March 2009, it was announced that May would appear as Connie Rathbone, a new love interest of Jack Duckworth, in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.[2]

From 2011 to 2018, she appeared in the Sky One sitcom Trollied, in which she played Margaret, a supermarket assistant pharmacist.[3] In 2017, May appeared in Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge as Julie "Nana" Booth. Her character died in the fourth episode of the series.[4] She later appeared in an episode of the third series of Ackley Bridge in 2019, as part of a scene with Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar).

Filmography

Film! Year! Title! Role! Notes
1980The GamekeeperMary
1981Looks and SmilesReceptionist
1996When Saturday ComesMabel
1999Fanny and ElvisRick's MotherMinor role
2009In the LoopMrs. Michaelson
2014MarthaOld Lady
2018Walk Like a PantherMabel Higgens
2020FargateEthel BadgerShort film
Everybody's Talking About JamieMrs. Cardwell
Television! Year! Title! Role! Notes
1977Play for TodayKath Storey2 episodes
1978Fallen HeroMolly1 episode
Coronation StreetMarjorie Pitts2 episodes
1979Crown CourtZoe Grimshaw1 episode
1981Coronation StreetFreda1 episode
1982Play for TodayPat1 episode
1983The Gathering SeedMartha Kilbride5 episodes
1984Juliet BravoAudrey Mason1 episode
ThreadsMrs. KempTelevision film
MitchEnid1 episode
1985Edge of DarknessTea LadyMini series
1988Wish Me LuckMarguerite1 episode
1989–2000Children's WardMagsMain role
1991The BillDoreen NoakesMinor role
1994HeartbeatJunk Shop OwnerMinor role
1996Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesSupermarket ShopperCameo role
1998The CopsPauline's NeighbourCameo role
Sharpe's JusticeMrs. TrentTelevision film
CasualtyMarion Copes1 episode
1999My Wonderful LifeMrs. Newell1 episode
2000City CentralBetty Sharples1 episode
Fat FriendsJoan KirkRecurring role
Coronation StreetMrs. Wilberforce1 episode
2001In DeepJoan Jameson2 episodes
Clocking OffBrenda Sleight1 episode
Coronation StreetBrenda Kelly1 episode
DoctorsEileen Neville1 episode
2002Blood StrangersPat BeresfordTelevision film
2003The RoyalAunt Mary GrahamMinor role
Last of the Summer WineCeliaMinor role
2003–2004Early DoorsJeanMain role
2004Holby CityQueenie Taylor1 episode
The BillSchool SecretaryMinor role
DoctorsSadie O'Malley1 episode
2005No AngelsMrs. ClemenceMinor role
BodiesJudith Bailey1 episode
2005, 2007HeartbeatMrs. Sneddon2 episodes
2006The StreetMargie's FriendCameo role
CasualtyEileen Slater1 episode
2006–2007Drop Dead GorgeousNana HowardRecurring role
2008Trexx and FlipsideEdna1 episode
SunshineDoreenMinor role
DoctorsMaggie Wilson1 episode
2009–2010Coronation StreetConnie RathboneRecurring role
2009Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974Aunty Win Television film
This MorningHerselfGuest
2010CasualtyEileen Thompson1 episode
DoctorsPhyllis March1 episode
2011–2018TrolliedMargaretMain role; 68 episodes
2011DoctorsMary Roberts1 episode
2012The ArgumentMaureenTelevision film
2014Remember MeMavisMinor role
2017, 2019Ackley BridgeJulie "Nana" BoothRecurring role; 5 episodes
2018CasualtyMatilda Dunford1 episode
2019Emelia Merchent1 episode
2020Tea for ThreeGran1 episode
Baby ZoomersValerie1 episode

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ackley Bridge: Who's who in Channel 4's latest drama. 2017-06-06. Royal Television Society. en. 2019-02-12.
  2. Web site: First Pics: Jack's new lover Connie in Corrie. Green. Kris. 2009-03-17. Digital Spy. en-GB. 2019-02-12.
  3. Web site: Reasons to get Trollied. Radio Times. en. 2019-02-12.
  4. Web site: Ackley Bridge viewers left in tears as Missy's nan dies. Hegarty. Tasha. 2017-06-28. Digital Spy. en-GB. 2019-02-12.