Patricia Phoenix

Patricia Phoenix (November 26, 1923 - September 18, 1986) was a British actress. She was born Patricia Frederica Pilkington in Manchester.

She is most known for her role as Elsie Tanner, the devil-may-care divorcée who lived at No. 11 Coronation Street for many years. Phoenix was on the programme from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1984. Her character would become well-known for her fiery red hair.

Her popularity gained her a part in the film The L-Shaped Room, starring alongside actress Leslie Caron. Her love life was also fodder for tabloid stories, having married her Corrie co-star Alan Browning as well as actor Anthony Booth. In her final marriage, Patricia became the stepmother of Cherie Blair and a mother-in-law of Tony Blair.

Her marriage to Booth came just days before she died of lung cancer.