Biography
Gwen Taylor is an English actress. Born on 19 February 1939 in Derbyshire, she trained at East 15 Acting School in London after working in banking. Her first professional role was in a pantomime at Derby Playhouse, and she made her stage debut in 1972 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
She is known for television roles including Amy Pearce in the sitcom Duty Free (1984–1986), Barbara Liversidge in Barbara (1999–2003), Peggy Armstrong in Heartbeat (2005–2009), Anne Foster in Coronation Street (2011–2012) and Vi Highway in EastEnders (2021–2023). Film appearances include Mrs Big Nose in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and Mam in The Lady in the Van (2015). Taylor received a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Actress in 1990 for A Bit of a Do (1989) and an Olivier Award nomination in 1981 for her performance in Hamlet.
