Shirley Stelfox

Shirley Stelfox (11 April 1941 – 7 December 2015) was an English actress known for her roles in Emmerdale and Keeping Up Appearances. Born in Dukinfield, Cheshire, she studied at RADA alongside Edward Fox, John Thaw, and Sarah Miles. Stelfox suffered from bilateral amblyopia, leaving her short-sighted. She began her career at the BBC, appearing in a play called The Case Before You. In December 1960, she made her debut on Coronation Street. Stelfox's most notable role was as Edna Birch, a moralising busybody in Emmerdale. She also portrayed Rose, the vampy sister of Hyacinth Bucket in the first series of Keeping Up Appearances.