Maria Charles (born 22nd September 1929 in London. died 21st April 2023) appeared on Coronation Street intermittently between February and June 2005 as Lena Thistlewood, a close friend of Blanche Hunt.
The daughter of David and Celia Schneider, she made her stage debut as the Dormouse in a 1945 production of Alice in Wonderland at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing.
Other TV credits include Nicholas Nickleby, ITV Television Playhouse, Crossroads, Pollyanna, Z Cars, Play for Today, Angels, Secret Army, Agony (alongside Maureen Lipman), Shine on Harvey Moon, Never the Twain, Boon, Lovejoy, Doctors, Bad Girls, Holby City and Skins.
Film credits include: Revenge of the Pink Panther, Cuba, Victor Victoria, Under the Bed, Savage Hearts, Sixty Six, Hot Fuzz and Sisterhood.