Barbara Knox is an English actress, best known for her long-running portrayal of Rita Tanner in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.
She first appeared as Rita Littlewood for one episode in December 1964, before returning to the show as a full-time cast member in January 1972. She is currently the second-longest-serving cast member in Coronation Street, behind William Roache (who has played Ken Barlow since the first episode in December 1960). Knox is also the second-longest-serving current television soap opera star in the world after playing Rita for 54 years.
Knox made her professional stage debut in 1962 at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, had a small role as a dancer in the 1969 remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips and appeared opposite Ken Dodd in his 1972 comedy series Funny You Should Say That. She won the 1989 TV Times Award for Best Actress for one of her best remembered storylines, involving the character Alan Bradley. In 2006, she won the British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership with Malcolm Hebden, having previously received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 ceremony. She was made an MBE in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List alongside her co-star and friend Eileen Derbyshire.
