This news fairly cheered me up this morning. Carry On and Coronation Street legend Amanda Barrie has been awarded Attitude Magazine's Icon Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award is in recognition for all her hard work both as an actress and as a rather superb human being over the past seven decades in the public eye.
Amanda, who was married to the actor and director Robin Hunter in the late 1960s, came out as bisexual at the age of 67 and married her long-term partner, writer Hillary Bonner, just before she turned 79. I remember reading Amanda's wonderful autobiography, It's Not A Rehearsal, and it's one of the most honest, frank biographies I've ever read. In it she writes very honestly about the pressure she was under to protect her private life during her long stint in Coronation Street during the 1980s and 1990s.
Amanda has been recognised for this award for being a truly great role model to many for so many years now. Of course for us, she's best remembered for her roles in several classic comedy films, the most iconic of all being the title role in Carry On Cleo. Amanda spent decades working in the very best of West End theatre before being discovered by a whole new audience with her role as cafe owner Alma in Coronation Street. Since leaving the street Amanda has gone on to star in several high profile television shows and also returned to the theatre.
I'm thrilled for Amanda, this award is really well deserved. Amanda was presented with the award last night by Paul O'Grady, in a ceremony hosted by the actor Alan Cumming.
More information on this ceremony and all the winners can be found in the November issue of Attitude Magazine - more here
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