Beatrice Kelley (born 1947 in Durham) is a well-established actress who appeared in Coronation Street during 1996 as Carol Palmer, mother-in-law of recently widowed Claire. She returned to the programme in September 2014 and March 2015 as Barbara Deakin, the paternal aunt of Michael Rodwell.
The youngest of four children of Harold and Marjorie Smith, Beatrice spent many hours in Beech Hill cinema when films were shown continuously; a love of acting began here. She joined the Otley Junior Players and her first starring role was as a clockwork doll at the age of five. She progressed to the Sylvia Green drama school in Menston but continued her formal education as her parents wished and became a teacher in spite of having been told at Prince Henry's Grammar School that she was "not academic enough to teach".
However, Beatrice resigned from her teaching post when Prince Henry's would not put "A" Level drama on the curriculum. Having already obtained a degree and a diploma in drama, she obtained her Equity card at the age of 47.
Other TV credits include minor roles in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, The Grand, Dalziel and Pascoe, Phoenix Nights, Last of the Summer Wine, Burn It, Where the Heart Is, My Parents Are Aliens, Life on Mars, Ideal, Casualty, Waterloo Road, Heartbeat, Doctors, Candy Cabs, Shameless and The Syndicate.
She also appeared in the John Smiths famous "No Nonsense" advertisements.