Patricia Shakesby (born 6 November 1939) is an English actress and playwright, best known for her role as Polly Urquhart in Howards' Way. She is also notable for being an original cast member of Coronation Street, in which she played Susan Cunningham, the first on-screen love interest of Ken Barlow.

Early life and roles Shakesby was born in Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire. She began her acting career in London’s West End, aged 18, playing the Sea Witch in Where the Rainbow Ends. Other West End appearances included Susie in Someone to Kill, Charlotte in Night of the Iguana, Felicity in The Real Inspector Hound and Helen in Suddenly at Home. For the Royal Shakespeare Company, Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, The Love-Girl and the Innocent and La Ronde.

Shakesby was a member of the original cast of Coronation Street playing Suzan Cunningham for twelve episodes. In 1972, Shakesby appeared alongside Anthony Hopkins in the television series War and Peace, playing Vera Rostova. Between 1985 and 1990, she appeared in six series of the BBC television series Howard's Way, playing Polly Urquhart. Her many other television credits include Hancock's Half Hour, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, The Borderers, Late Starter, The Liver Birds, The Likely Lads, Sapphire & Steel, Casting the Runes and Yes Minister.

She wrote a play, The Lady of the Abbey, based on the life of the wife of Robert Fitzhamon, who founded Tewkesbury Abbey.

Personal life Shakesby married Alan Purkiss in 1997. The couple live in Gloucestershire. She won an award for playing the best drunk on television; however, Shakesby is teetotal, as alcohol gives her a migraine.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1962 She Knows Y'Know Valerie Early film role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1960–1961 Coronation Street Susan Cunningham Original cast member; 12 episodes 1965 Emergency-Ward 10 Joan Barry 2 episodes 1969 Detective Mrs. Grange 1 episode 1969 The Inside Man Vera Kaczka 1 episode 1970 The Borderers Anne Michie 1 episode 1971 Doctor in the House Nurse 1 episode 1971 On the Buses Nurse 1 episode 1971 The Liver Birds Jean Pike 1 episode 1971 The Fenn Street Gang Nurse 1 episode 1972 War and Peace Vera Rostova 4 episodes 1979 ITV Playhouse Elise Marriott 1 episode 1980 Yes Minister Mandy (Secretary) 1 episode 1981 Sapphire & Steel Anne Shaw 6 episodes 1985 Late Starter Jane Bourne 3 episodes 1985–1989 Howard's Way Polly Urquhart 54 episodes

Select stage roles 1960, Sea Witch, Where the Rainbow Ends at the West End 1960s, Susie, Someone to Kill at the West End 1960s, Charlotte, Night of the Iguana at the West End 1960s, Felicity, The Real Inspector Hound at the West End 1960s, Annie, When We Are Married in repertory 1971–72, Helen, Suddenly at Home at the Fortune Theatre 1970s, Constance, She Stoops to Conquer in repertory 1970s, Cordelia, King Lear in repertory 1970s, Miranda, The Tempest in repertory 1970s, The Princess of France, Love's Labour's Lost in repertory 1970s, Titania, A Midsummer Night's Dream in repertory 1970s, Olivia, Twelfth Night in repertory 1970s, Clara, They Came to a City in repertory 1970s, Edna, An Inspector Calls in repertory 1970s, Ann, Man and Superman in repertory 1970s, Amanda, Private Lives in repertory 1970s, Fiona, How the Other Half Loves in repertory 1970s, Constance, The Constant Wife in repertory 1970s, Do Not Disturb in repertory 1970s, Linda, Move Over Mrs. Markham in repertory 1980s, The Merchant of Venice - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, Troilus and Cressida - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, Romeo and Juliet - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, Hamlet - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, Love Girl and the Innocent - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, La Ronde - the Royal Shakespeare Company 1980s, The Wife, The Seven Year Itch on UK tour 1980s, The Spin of the Wheel on UK tour 1980s, Goodnight Mrs. Puffin on UK tour 1980s, Dead of Night on UK tour 1990s, Mam, A Prayer for Wings at Theatre Clwyd 1990s, Elsie, Laburnum Grove in repertory 1990s, Hippolyta, The Rape of the Belt in repertory 1990s, The Heiress on UK tour 1990s, Straight and Narrow on UK tour 1990s, Queen Elizabeth, Shadow in the Sun (two-hander) on UK tour 1980s–1990s, Various plays in productions staged in Vienna, Frankfurt, and Zurich

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