Barbara Knox – Rita Tanner from Coronation Street

There’s no shortage of powerful female characters in the world of British soaps, but can anyone really stand up against Rita Tanner? The beloved Coronation Street character has been on since the mid-’60s and is portrayed by the charismatic Barbara Knox.

Few actors are lucky enough to say they’ve managed to work in show business for over six decades by basically playing a single character. But that’s Knox for you: while it’s almost unthinkable to imagine her doing anything else, her massive talent and on-screen personality have allowed her to capture the imagination of the British viewers in over 3,100 Coronation Street episodes.