CORONATION Street star Maureen Lipman has had a booming TV career throughout the years, dating back to her first acting gig as Evelyn Plummer on Coronation Street in 1968.
The acclaimed ITV actress has become a well-known household name, with her life playing out on and off-camera.
Whilst on Corrie, Maureen has played several roles, including Lillian Spencer in 2002 for six episodes and Tyrone Dobbs' (Alan Halsall) battle-axe grandmother Evelyn Plummer since 2018.
Her character is currently battling with her daughter Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney), who recently relapsed on the beloved ITV soap and was found by granddaughter Hope Dobbs (Isabella Flanagan).
Let's dive inside the life of Maureen Lipman, from her Helen Mirren dispute to her heartbreaking marital life.
Acting career before Coronation Street
Maureen's first acting gig was on Up the Junction in 1968 as Sylvie, and after that, she played several minor roles for the first couple of years.
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She also starred as Gloria in 1973's Casanova, Sarah Lewis in Crown Court 1974 and Jane Lucas in Agony from 1979 to 1981.
Maureen has starred in films such as Captain Jack as Barbara Bostock in 1999 and Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! 1999.
The 77-year-old starred in Doctor Who as The Wire in 2006, Ladies of Letters as Irene Spencer from 2009 to 2010, Holby City as Bonnie Walters in 2011 and Mags Dormer in Midsomer Murders 2012.
Feud with Helen Mirren
Maureen is similar to her character Evelyn Plummer, who is known for her outright opinions, which recently involved Helen Mirren.
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The Corrie star, who is Jewish, recently criticised Helen's casting as former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir.
She said she was uncomfortable with the idea of Helen playing Meir because she is not Jewish.
Speaking to The Jewish Chronicle, she explained: "With that, I disagree because the Jewishness of the character is so integral. I'm sure she will be marvellous, but it would never be allowed for Ben Kingsley to play Nelson Mandela.
"You just couldn't even go there. Perhaps you need to have some sort of panel of people who say this is not acceptable, this is acceptable."
Maureen also spoke about her issues with Mirren on Good Morning Britain, where she added: "I've nothing against Helen playing [her].
"My query is, should the casting directors have looked first – and maybe they did – at Bette Midler or Barbra Streisand or Jennifer Connelly, or Scarlett Johansson, or indeed, I probably would have gone for Tracey Ullman, who's a brilliant actress."
Marriage and heartbreaking loss
The TV star had been married two times.
Her first husband, Jack Rosenthal, was a screenwriter for Coronation Street, writing 250 episodes.
Tragically, Jack died in 2004, with Maureen going on to marry her most recent husband, Guido Castro.
The acclaimed actress was married to the businessman for 13 years, but in 2021, he sadly passed following a battle with coronavirus, which left him "weakened".
The star attributes his death to a form of Parkinson's Disease.
She explained that Guido, 84, contracted the virus days after receiving the coronavirus vaccine.
During a Gogglebox episode, she spoke about his death and said: "He got Covid – it wasn't Covid that killed him but weakened him terribly.
"We don't know how he got it or when or if he had it when he got the vaccine. It was not a good way to go.
"You can't express what it's like not to be able to touch somebody when you're in this [protective gear], and he's in that, and then there's a screen, and you can see them disintegrating in life, and you can't do anything.
"And in the end, you know, the daughters and I were creeping in through a French window, and sitting there – masks, gloves, pinnies."
Maureen recently brought her "gentleman friend" David to the National Television Awards ceremony and told Sunday Express the couple will "see where it goes".
Gogglebox departure
Maureen starred on Channel 4's popular show alongside This Morning star and Royal Correspondent Gyles Brandreth on the all-star celebrity spin-off.
Her honest opinions and blunt comments were seen throughout her time on the show, with her and Gyles becoming fan's favourites.
In 2021, after she slammed the show's editing, Maureen announced her departure.
While on the Loose Women panel in November 2021, she said: "I've seen all the male tackle that I need to see for this lifetime. To be honest, I really have.
"I've run through my period of going [shocked noises], 'Oh, get it off!' Gyles loves it, he absolutely loves it, and we had such a good time, but none of the clever things we said went into it… so no."
Corrie's first Dame
Maureen became the first dame of Coronation Street after receiving the honour from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in 2021.
After receiving the honours, she said: "biggest secret of my life for two painful months" when she was informed of the decision.
"It's been a long time coming because I heard about it in 2020, and then I couldn't collect it.
"And so the coat you bought becomes like something you don't want to wear. Then it becomes, 'What the heck do I wear on my head?'
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"In the end, I went to Coronation Street, and I said, 'Have you got any fascinators in wardrobe?' And they gave me seven."
She received the dame award for services to charity, entertainment and the arts.
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