Jennie McAlpine has paid tribute to the incredibly humble Liz Dawn.
The ‘Coronation Street’ star – who plays Fiz on the ITV soap – has paid tribute to the late actress, who played the iconic Vera Duckworth, and spoke of how humble she always was on set.
Speaking of Liz – who sadly passed away on Monday (25.09.17) evening at the age of 77 – Jennie said: "She was very funny; she was incredibly funny to work with. I was a ‘Coronation Street’ fan as a little girl, but I was a fan of ‘Coronation Street’ because I was a fan of Vera Duckworth and Jack. I really was. So to get onto that set and be greeted by that woman was incredible. The pair of them together were dynamite.
"I very quickly realised, and anyone will tell you about Liz, she had no idea about her own talents. She was so humble and actually when you got onto the set, she’d ask you how you were, how you’d been, what you’ve been up to and then you’d do the scene second. She was really interested in who you were and then we’d do the scene. This idea of her being a legend, everybody in the country totally agrees with. She did not think that."
Liz had suffered from ill health over the years and the 33-year-old actress admits she could never "prepare" for Liz’s passing.
Speaking on ITV’s Loose Women, she added: "You can’t prepare for something like this. My heart and ‘Coronation Street’s [heart] is with Liz’s family. She was incredibly close to her big family … Our thoughts are just with them."
Liz passed away surrounded by her family, including husband Don Ibbotson and their children.
Soap bosses said in a statement: "It is with the greatest sadness that we have learned our beloved Liz Dawn has passed away last night. Her family at Coronation Street are heartbroken. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy at this very sad time to Liz’s devoted husband Don, her loving children Graham, Dawn, Ann and Julie, their families and her six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. We have been blessed to have Liz in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague."