Cleo Sylvestre MBE (born 19th April 1945 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, died 20th September 2024) appeared on Coronation Street between June and July 1966 as Elliston's Raincoat Factory welder Cilla Christie.
She was educated at Camden School for Girls, furthered her studies at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and in 1964, released the single To Know Him Is to Love Him (under the name "Cleo" and backed by the Rolling Stones).
Her other television credits included roles in Crossroads, The Troubleshooters, Z Cars, Till Death Us Do Part, Marked Personal, Grange Hill, Life Begins at Forty, The Gemini Factor, The Bill, Happy Families, Doctors and All Creatures Great and Small.
Film roles included Johnny on the Run, The Smashing Bird I Used to Know, Sammy and Rosie Get Laid, Kidulthood, Paddington and Forever Young.
On stage, she appeared in productions of Wise Child, Humulus the Muted Lover, The Magicalympical Games, Blood Brothers, Mariana Pineda, To Kill a Mockingbird, The House of Bernarda Alba, Far from the Madding Crowd and Medea.
Cleo was awarded the MBE for service to drama and charity in the King's New Year's Honours list, 2023.