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Anna Cropper
Born 13 May 1938 (1938-05-13)
Died 22 January 2007 (2007-01-23) (aged 68)
Tangmere, West Sussex, England
Other names Anna Roache
Occupation Actress
Years active 1960–1999
Spouse(s)
William Roache
(m. 1961; div. 1974)
Children 2, including Linus

Anna Cropper (also Roache; 13 May 1938 – 22 January 2007) was an English stage and television actress.

Early years

Cropper was born in Brierfield, Lancashire, the daughter of Margaret, a stage actress and director, and Jack Cropper, a dentist. The family lived on Todmorden Road in Burnley during her early life.

Career

Cropper studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She made her television debut as Chrysalis in The Insect Play (1960), based on the 1921 play by Czech brothers Josef and Karel Čapek. She appeared in Emergency Ward 10 three times and on Coronation Street three times in 1962.

She came to prominence playing a young schizophrenic in the television play In Two Minds (The Wednesday Play, BBC, 1967) by David Mercer. which won the Writers' Guild Award for the Best Television Play of 1967.

Her film roles included appearances in All Neat in Black Stockings (1968), Cromwell (1970) and Nanou (1986). .....

She played Mary Hodgson, the nurse of the boys who inspired the creation of Peter Pan in the BBC docudrama The Lost Boys (1978). Other television roles included two episodes of the BBC's Play for Today, as Norah Palmer in the James MacTaggart-directed Robin Redbreast (1970), a Christmas supernatural thriller by John Bowen and Dennis Potter's play Schmoedipus (1974).

She appeared in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and featured in Anna of the Five Towns (1985) a 4-part BBC period drama. Her last television credit is for an episode of Midsomer Murders entitled "Death's Shadow" (1999).

Marriage

Cropper married Coronation Street actor William Roache in 1961. They had two children, son Linus Roache and daughter Vanya, and divorced in 1974.

Death

Cropper died suddenly of a heart attack in January 2007, aged 68, at her home in Tangmere, West Sussex. Her daughter, Vanya, died on 2 March 2018 aged 50.

Selected television

Year Title Role Writer
1960 The Insect Play Chrysalis
1967 Angel Pavement Miss Cadham
1967 In Two Minds Kate Winter David Mercer
1970 Robin Redbreast Norah Palmer John Bowen
1972 The Exorcism John Bowen
1972 The Moonstone Rosanna Spearman
1973 Lord Peter Wimsey (TV series) The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club Anna Dorland Dorothy L. Sayers adapted by Anthony Steven
1975 Schmoedipus Dennis Potter
1978 The Lost Boys Mary Hodgson
1982 Praying Mantis Gertrude
1984 The Jewel in the Crown
1985 Anna of the Five Towns
1986 Nemesis (Miss Marple) Anthea Bradbury-Scott

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1968 All Neat in Black Stockings Sis
1970 Cromwell Ruth Carter
1986 Nanou Nanou's mother
1994 Don't Get Me Started Mother Voice, Uncredited
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