Gita Denise

Gita Denise (born 8th October 1924 in Czechoslovakia, died 24th January 2004 in London) appeared in Coronation Street in September 1967 as Maria Louisa, the Portuguese maid in the villa rented by the newly-wed Steve and Elsie Tanner.

The previous year she appeared in The Sailor Home From The Sea, an episode of the Street spin-off Pardon the Expression.

She studied at the Prague Conservatory and was a soloist with the Czech national opera before the Second World War and moved to London with her Czech air fighter husband Thomas Vybaral during the cold war to escape the communist authorities. She continued her career in opera, appearing on the BBC in El Amor Brujo, The Troubadours and Die Walkure before branching into acting with roles in The Human Jungle, Danger Man, No Hiding Place, Thriller and Smiley's People as well as West End musicals and cabaret. She was also a highly regarded choreographer and teacher of several leading opera singers.