Meg Johnson (actress)

Margaret Mary Foster (30 September 1936 – 1 July 2023), better known as Meg Johnson, was an English actress. Over a career spanning almost six decades, she became known for her soap opera roles as Eunice Gee in Coronation Street, Brigid McKenna in Brookside, and Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale. She also appeared in musicals including Chicago and Follies.

"Margaret Mary Foster" redirects here. For the New Zealand netball player, see Margaret Foster.

Meg Johnson
Johnson in Emmerdale
Born
Margaret Mary Green

(1936-09-30)30 September 1936
Manchester, England
Died1 July 2023(2023-07-01) (aged 86)
Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England
OccupationActress
Years active1961–2020
Spouses
Hibbert Johnson
​
​
(m. 1956, divorced)​
    Charles Foster
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1981; died 2023)​
    Children2

    Early life

    Johnson was born Margaret Mary Green in Manchester on 30 September 1936 to Eleanor (née James), a former bus conductor, and Stan Green, a brewery foreman.[1] Johnson was evacuated to Bolton during World War II and made her stage debut there, aged six, singing and dancing at the Grand theatre. After developing asthma, she began singing lessons to improve her breathing.[2][1]

    Career

    Johnson's first professional acting role came in May 1961, when she was 24, in a television series titled Here's Harry. She continued in the show until 1964. Subsequent roles included Family Solicitor (1961) and The Referees (1961).[3] Johnson first appeared in a few episodes of the ITV television soap opera Coronation Street in 1972 as a tipsy woman and in 1976 as Brenda Holden, before being cast as Eunice Gee in 1981, a role she would play with recurring appearances until 1999.[2]

    In the 1980s, Johnson worked with Victoria Wood, appearing in several episodes of her shows Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, as well as Victoria Wood Presents.[4] In 1997, Johnson appeared in the West End theatre revival of Chicago as Mama Morton.[5] She also appeared in theatre productions of Follies and Gypsy.[2]

    From 2000 to 2003, Johnson appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside as Brigid McKenna until the soap's cancellation.[6][7] Later in 2003, Johnson was cast as Pearl Ladderbanks in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role she portrayed until March 2020.[8]

    Personal life

    In 1956, Johnson married Hibbert Johnson. The marriage produced a son and a daughter, but later ended in divorce.[9]

    Johnson was married to English actor and ITV Granada presenter Charles Foster from 1981 until his death on 23 February 2023.[2][10][11]

    Death

    Johnson died at her home in Rochdale on 1 July 2023, aged 86.[12][13] In a statement, her family said that she "had dementia for the last few years, but battled on personally and professionally regardless".[14][15] Emmerdale paid tribute to her on its social media accounts, describing Johnson as "a kind and wonderful lady, full of warmth and always with a twinkle in her eye" and added that she would be "greatly missed by everyone who knew her".[16]

    Filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1961–1964 Here's Harry Unknown Recurring role; 5 episodes
    1961 Family Solicitor Mary Carslake 3 episodes
    The Referees Waitress Television film
    1964 Comedy Playhouse Office girl Episode: "The Mascot"
    1972 Country Matters Barmaid Episode: "Crippled Bloom"
    Coronation Street Tipsy woman 1 episode
    1973 Nearest and Dearest Miss Pringle Episode: "Get Out of That"
    1974 How's Your Father? Alice Henthorn Episode: "Who Was That Lady?"
    1975 The Life of Riley Betty Butcher Episode: "Uneasy Riders"
    Play for Today Vera Episode: "Wednesday Love"
    1976 Coronation Street Brenda Holden 4 episodes
    Crown Court Tricia Dibden 2 episodes
    1976–1977 Yanks Go Home Phoebe Sankey Lead role; 13 episodes
    1978 Strangers Barmaid Episode: "Paying Guests"
    1978–1979 Empire Road Mrs. Ridley Starring role; 4 episodes
    1979 Two Up, Two Down Woman in precinct Episode: "What's Yours Is Mine"
    Mother Nature's Bloomers Various All 6 episodes
    1980 Watch All Night Dianne Eveling Episode: "Night People"
    Strangers Woman in suburbs Episode: "Armed and Dangerous"
    1980–1981 The Good Companions Effie 2 episodes
    1981–1982, 1999 Coronation Street Eunice Gee Regular role; 72 episodes
    1981 The Olympian Way Violet 2 episodes
    1985–1987 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Various 4 episodes
    1986 The Practice Mary O'Dowd 2 episodes
    1989 Split Ends Mrs. Emery Episode: "Tangles"
    Victoria Wood Connie Episode: "Mens Sana in Thingummy Doodah"
    Saundra Episode: "Over to Pam"
    1993 Taggart Mrs. Jeffrey Episode: "Fatal Inheritance"
    Lovejoy Maureen Episode: "Ducking and Diving"
    Chris Cross Nurse Garbo Episode: "It's a Jungle in There"
    1995–1996 Hollyoaks Aunt Rose 2 episodes
    1998–1999 The Wild House Aunt Yvette Regular role
    1999 Rab C. Nesbitt Speaker of the House Episode: "Commons"
    2000 Peak Practice Freda Norton Episode: "Turning Tides"
    2000–2003 Brookside Brigid McKenna Regular role
    2000 The Thing About Vince... Sylvia Series 1: Episode 3
    2003–2020 Emmerdale Pearl Ladderbanks Regular role; 1,065 episodes
    2011 Emmerdale: Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In Spin-off film
    Sources:[6][17]

    References
    1. Hayward, Anthony (6 July 2023). "Meg Johnson obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
    2. "Five Fast Facts About British Soap Star Meg Johnson". SoapHub. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
    3. "Meg Johnson at British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    4. "Meg Johnson". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
    5. "Emmerdale star dies following private dementia battle | Halifax Courier".
    6. "Meg Johnson". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
    7. McLoughlin, Bill (2 July 2023). "Meg Johnson dead: Emmerdale star dies aged 86 following dementia battle". Evening Standard.
    8. Fear, Helen (15 January 2020). "Emmerdale fans delighted to see village regular return after months missing on screen". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
    9. Hayward, Anthony (6 July 2023). "Meg Johnson obituary | Soap opera". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
    10. "Tributes paid following the death of ITV Granada continuity announcer Charles Foster". ITV. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    11. "Old About Us". Cornwall Theatre School. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
    12. "Emmerdale and Coronation Street actress Meg Johnson dies". BBC News. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    13. "Emmerdale stalwart Meg Johnson dies age 86". itv.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
    14. "Meg Johnson: 'Kind and wonderful' Emmerdale actress dies". Sky News. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    15. "Soap opera stalwart Meg Johnson dies aged 86". The Independent. 2 July 2023.
    16. "Emmerdale pays tribute to Meg Johnson after death". Digital Spy. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    17. "Meg Johnson filmography". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
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