Helen Worth facts for kids

Helen Worth is a famous British actress. She was born as Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth on January 7, 1951. Helen is best known for playing the character Gail Platt in the TV show Coronation Street. She was on the show for 50 years, from 1974 until 2024. In 2014, she won a special award called the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. Helen Worth was also given an award called Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022 for her great work in drama.

Early Life and Beginnings

Helen Worth was born in Ossett, England. She grew up in a town called Morecambe. Helen came from a middle-class family and went to a private school. When she was 20, in 1971, her mother sadly passed away in a car accident.

After finishing drama school, Helen started acting in plays. She also worked for BBC Radio. When she first acted on stage in a play called The Sound of Music, she decided to shorten her name. This was because the main actors thought her birth name, Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth, was too long for the show's posters.

Early Acting Roles

Before joining Coronation Street, Helen appeared in a few films and TV shows. She had small, uncredited parts in movies like Oliver! (1968) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). She also appeared in a famous TV show called Doctor Who in 1971. Other TV roles included The Doctors and Within These Walls.

Starring in Coronation Street

Helen Worth joined the popular TV show Coronation Street in 1974. She played the character Gail Platt. For many years, Helen said she loved her job and Gail's exciting storylines. She was happy to stay on the show.

Gail Platt's Journey

In 2010, Helen shared that she really enjoyed the stories her character Gail had. She praised the writers for creating many strong plots for Gail over the years. In 2014, a special TV show called Gail & Me was made. This show celebrated Helen Worth's 40 years of playing Gail.

In June 2024, the TV channel ITV announced that Helen Worth decided to leave Coronation Street. She had been on the show for 50 years! Gail's final appearance on the show was on Christmas Day 2024. The show's creators said that Gail would have a "happy ending."

Helen's Personal Life

Helen Worth has a home in London. She married actor Michael Angelis in 1991. They divorced in 2001. Later, Helen married Trevor Dawson, who is a primary school teacher. They got married on April 6, 2013, at St James's Church in London.

Helping Others: Charity Work

Helen Worth is a supporter of the Born Free Foundation. This charity helps wild animals around the world. They work to stop animal suffering and protect animals that are in danger. Helen has appeared on TV to support their campaigns. In 2006, she spoke at the House of Commons to help protect Anne, who was the last circus elephant in the UK.

She also supports another charity called ActionAid. This charity works to fight poverty and injustice around the world. Helen has visited Sierra Leone to see their work there.

Awards and Recognitions

Helen Worth has won several awards for her acting, especially for her role as Gail in Coronation Street.

• In 2006, she won the "Outstanding Achievement Award" at the Inside Soap Awards.
• In 2014, she won another "Outstanding Achievement Award" at the 2014 British Soap Awards.
• In 2019, she received the British Soap Award for "Scene of the Year." This was for a powerful speech she gave on the show. This scene was also nominated for a BAFTA TV Award.

See also

In Spanish: Helen Worth para niños