Gwen Taylor (born 19 February 1939) is an English actress who has appeared in many British television programmes. She is known for her roles as Amy Pearce in the sitcom Duty Free (1984–1986), Barbara Liversidge in the sitcom Barbara (1999–2003), Peggy Armstrong in the drama series Heartbeat (2005–2009), Anne Foster in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2011–2012), and Vi Highway in BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2021–2023). She was nominated for the 1990 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her role as Rita Simcock in the comedy series A Bit of a Do (1989). Her film appearances include Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and The Lady in the Van (2015). In 1981, Taylor was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Gertrude in Hamlet.
Biography Gwen Taylor was born on 19 February 1939 in Crich, Derbyshire. Her initial career was in banking, but when she was an assistant area manager for the National Provincial Bank in Derby she became increasingly interested in amateur dramatics. Her first professional acting role was as a Green Bean in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Derby Playhouse. Taylor trained at East 15 Acting School, London. She played Josephine in A Taste of Honey, in one of the earliest productions at the newly opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, in 1972. In 1973, she played Pamela Dean, the sister of the murder victim Victor Dean, in Murder Must Advertise, an adaptation of Dorothy L Sayers's novel. In 1975, she played the role of Jack Regan's girlfriend, a probation officer named Anne Knightley, in the fourth episode of the second series of the British police drama The Sweeney, "Big Brother".
Later in the 1970s, she was one of the regulars on Eric Idle's Rutland Weekend Television. She also appeared in other Monty Python spin-offs such as The Life of Brian and Ripping Yarns, and in a dual role as both Chastity and Mrs Iris Mountbatten in the Beatles parody All You Need Is Cash. On the film's DVD commentary, Eric Idle described her as "the best comedy actress I ever worked with. She could do anything." However, she turned down a role in The Meaning of Life, as she thought that being covered in intestines as a man exploded in a restaurant would be "tasteless".
In 1990, she was nominated for a BAFTA as Best Actress for her role in A Bit of a Do opposite David Jason. Between 2005 and 2009, she played the role of Peggy Armstrong in the drama Heartbeat. In July 2011, it was announced that Taylor would be joining the cast of Coronation Street, playing Anne Foster, the mother of the villainous Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel). She departed the series after her character was revealed as the killer of her rapist son on 19 March 2012. In November 2012, she appeared with Don Warrington in the stage version of Driving Miss Daisy on a UK-wide tour. Taylor played various roles in Tracey Ullman's Show on the BBC in 2016 and 2017, and played Lillian in an episode of the Sky 1 sitcom Trollied in 2018. In May 2021, she joined the cast of BBC soap opera EastEnders playing Vi Highway.
Selected filmography Year Title Role NotesFilm1978All You Need is CashMrs. Mountbatten/Chastity1979Monty Python's Life of BrianMrs Big Nose/Woman with sick donkey/Young Girl1980Richard's ThingsMargaret2015The Lady in the VanMam2017Small Town KillersMiss NippleworthyOriginal Denmark title: Dræberne fra NibeAnother Mother's SonLily Vibert Television 1972 Dead of Night Tessa BBC anthology (1 episode) Kate Jo ITV drama (1 episode)1973Play for Today Sally Brown 1 episode: Land of Green GingerMurder Must AdvertisePamela DeanMiniseries (2 episodes) 1974 Badger's Set Leila TV sitcom pilot Crown Court Anne Wills ITV drama (2 episodes) John Halifax, GentlemanUrsula MarchMiniseries (5 episodes) Village Hall Hilary ITV comedy drama (1 episode) Z Cars Anne Evans Crime series (1 episode) 1975–1976 Rutland Weekend Television Various BBC sketch-show (14 episodes)1975The Nearly ManDorothy Hibbert ITV drama (4 episodes) The Punch Review Various BBC sketch show (1 episode) Space: 1999 Nurse ITV sci-fi (1 episode) The Sweeney Anne Knightly ITV crime (1 episode)Within These WallsMiss White ITV drama (1 episode) 1976 Second City Firsts The woman BBC drama (1 episode) The New Avengers Doctor Marlow ITV action (1 episode)1977 MiddlemenFay BBC sitcom (3 episodes) 1978 Hazell Mrs Ford ITV drama (1 episode) The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash Mrs Iris Mountbatten/Chastity TV film Send in the Girls Eileen ITV drama (1 episode)1979Ripping YarnsEileen OttershawBBC sitcom (1 episode)1980Sounding BrassCynthia Wildgoose ITV comedy (6 episodes)1981Only When I LaughVictoria PlumtreeITV sitcom (1 episode) 1982 Sorry I'm a Stranger Here Myself Bebe ITV sitcom (1 episode) 1983 Goodnight and God Bless Sandra ITV sitcom (1 episode)1984Play for TodayMavis Martin 1 Episode: A Coming to Terms for Billy1984–1986Duty FreeAmy PearceITV sitcom (22 episodes) 1985 Alas Smith & Jones Various BBC sketch show (1 episode) Lytton's Diary Angela Monroe ITV drama (1 episode) 1986 Slip-Up Charmian Biggs BBC television film 1988 Colin's Sandwich Mrs D'Arcy BBC sitcom (1 episode)Yes, Prime MinisterAgnes MoorhouseBBC sitcom (1 episode)1989A Bit of a DoRita SimcockBAFTA TV Award nomination (13 episodes)Sob SistersLiz ITV sitcom (7 episodes) 1990 Screenplay Winnie 1 episode Mistress of Suspense Olivia Emery 1 episode 1991 Murder Most Horrid Beryl BBC comedy (1 episode)The Sharp EndCelia Forrest BBC comedy (8 episodes) 1992 Inspector Morse Margaret Cliff ITV detective series (1 episode)ScreamingAnnie BBC sitcom (8 episodes)1993–1994Conjugal RitesGen MasefieldITV sitcom (13 episodes) 1994 The Detectives Annie BBC comedy (1 episode) 1995 Moving Story Nesta ITV comedy drama (1 episode) Some Kind of Life Sandra ITV television film Class Act Virginia Gilmore ITV comedy drama (1 episode)1997A Perfect StateLaura Fitzgerald BBC sitcom (7 episodes)Pilgrim's RestTilly BBC sitcom (6 episodes)Wycliffe Alma Petheric ITV crime series (1 episode)1995, 1999–2003BarbaraBarbara LiversidgeITV sitcom (29 episodes)2002Midsomer MurdersFrances LeBonEpisode "Ring Out Your Dead" 2003 Belonging Margaret BBC drama (1 episode)Born and BredDora BrisleyBritish comedy drama (2 episodes) 2005 Fat Friends Mrs Thompson ITV drama (1 episode)2005–2010HeartbeatPeggy ArmstrongITV drama (98 episodes)2009Doc MartinMrs SelkirkEpisode "The Departed"2011–2012Coronation StreetAnne FosterITV soap opera (47 episodes)2016–2017Tracey Ullman's ShowVariousBBC Comedy sketch show (6 episodes)2018 Trollied Lillian Sky 1 sitcom (1 episode)2020 Doctors Olive Wolverton Episode: "Mrs Wolf"2021–2023 EastEnders Vi Highway Series regular (77 episodes)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1981Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleHamlet 1990British Academy Television AwardsBest ActressA Bit of a Do 2006 12th National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Heartbeat 2021 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance EastEnders
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