Jean Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Alexander
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Alexander as Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street.
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| Born |
Jean Margaret Hodgkinson
11 October 1926 Toxteth, Liverpool, England
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| Died | 14 October 2016 (aged 90) Southport, Merseyside, England
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1949–2010 |
| Known for |
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| Television |
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Jean Alexander (born Jean Margaret Hodgkinson; October 11, 1926 – October 14, 2016) was a famous British actress. She was best known for playing two very popular characters on TV. For many years, she played Hilda Ogden in the soap opera Coronation Street. She was also known as Auntie Wainwright in the comedy show Last of the Summer Wine. Jean Alexander won an award for her acting in Coronation Street in 1985. She was also nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1988.
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Jean Alexander's Early Life
Jean Margaret Hodgkinson was born in 1926 in Toxteth, Liverpool. Her parents were Nell and Archie Hodgkinson. Her father worked as an electrician. Jean had an older brother named Kenneth.
From a young age, Jean wanted to be an actress. She loved watching variety shows at the Pavilion theatre in her city. She went to St Edmund's College for Girls. As a teenager, she joined an amateur theatre group. She also took lessons to improve her speaking skills.
Starting Her Acting Career
Before becoming an actress, Jean Alexander worked for five years. She was a library assistant in Liverpool. In 1949, she began her acting career. Her first acting job was at the Adelphi Guild Theatre in Macclesfield. She played a character named Florrie in a play called Sheppey.
After that, she worked in different theatre groups. These groups were in places like Oldham, Stockport, and York. Most of her roles were small. She also worked behind the scenes. She helped with costumes and managed the stage. Her first TV appearance was either in Z-Cars (1962) or Deadline Midnight (1961).
Becoming Famous in Coronation Street
Jean Alexander first appeared in Coronation Street in 1962. It was a small part as a landlady. Two years later, she came back to the show. This time, she played the character Hilda Ogden. She started this role on July 8, 1964. She finally left the show on December 25, 1987.
Hilda Ogden became very popular with TV viewers. People often thought Jean Alexander was just like her character. Jean once shared a funny story. A fan asked her if she was Hilda while she was shopping. Jean replied in her normal voice, "I beg your pardon?" The fan was surprised and said, "Oh, don't you talk funny!"
Many people loved Hilda Ogden. In 1979, a group called the British League for Hilda Ogden was started. Famous people like Sir John Betjeman and Laurence Olivier were part of it. In 1984, Hilda's husband, Stan Ogden, died on the show. Hundreds of fans sent Jean cards to say they were sorry. The actor who played Stan, Bernard Youens, had passed away a few months before his character did.
In 1985, Jean won an award for her acting in Coronation Street. When she decided to leave the show in 1987, fans tried to get her to stay. They started "Save Hilda!" campaigns. But many fans did not know that she had chosen to leave. Her last scenes in the show were on Christmas Day, 1987. Nearly 27 million people watched it. This was the highest number of viewers in the show's history.
In 2005, a poll by TV Times magazine named her the "Greatest Soap Opera Star of All Time".
Other TV Roles and Movies
In 1988, Jean Alexander appeared in the BBC comedy show Last of the Summer Wine. She played Auntie Wainwright. This character owned a junk shop and loved money. She came back for a second guest appearance in 1989. Then, she became a regular character in 1992. She stayed on the show until it ended in 2010.
Jean also acted in movies. These included Scandal (1989) and Willie's War (1994). She was the voice of Mrs. Santa in the animated film Hooves of Fire (1999). She also appeared in other TV shows like Boon and The Phoenix and the Carpet. She was in the comedy series Rich Tea and Sympathy. Jean also appeared on the quiz show Cluedo. Later, she was in shows like Barbara, Heartbeat, and Where the Heart Is.
Jean Alexander's Personal Life
Jean Alexander never got married. She said that her acting career was her main focus. She was very good friends with Bernard Youens. He played her husband, Stan, in Coronation Street. Jean wrote a book about her life called The Other Side of the Street. It was published in 1989.
She lived in Southport, Merseyside, for many years. In 2009, she helped campaign for a temporary library in the town. This was while the main library was being fixed. Jean loved gardening. After she passed away, a special bench was placed at the Southport Flower Show to remember her. She visited the show often.
She even gave her old 1955 lawnmower to the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport. You can still see it there today!
Later Years and Passing Away
Jean Alexander announced she was retiring in 2012. This was two years after her last TV appearance. Her acting career lasted for over 60 years. She turned 90 years old on October 11, 2016. Sadly, she became ill and passed away three days later. She died in Southport Hospital.
Awards and Recognition
Jean Alexander received several awards and nominations for her acting.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
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| 1985 | RTS Award | Best Actress | Coronation Street | Won |
| 1987 | BAFTA Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Nominated | |
| 1988 | TV Times Award | Best Actress | Coronation Street | Won |
Images for kids
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Jean Alexander as Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street.
