Age, Biography and Wiki

Betty Driver (Elizabeth Mary Driver) was born on 20 May, 1920 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK, is an actress,soundtrack. Discover Betty Driver's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 91 years old?

Popular As Elizabeth Mary Driver
Occupation actress,soundtrack
Age 91 years old
Zodiac Sign Taurus
Born 20 May, 1920
Birthday 20 May
Birthplace Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
Date of death 15 October, 2011
Died Place Cheadle, Cheshire, England, UK
Nationality United Kingdom

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 20 May. She is a member of famous Actress with the age 91 years old group.

Betty Driver Height, Weight & Measurements

At 91 years old, Betty Driver height is 5' 7" (1.7 m) .

Physical Status
Height 5' 7" (1.7 m)
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Betty Driver's Husband?

Her husband is Wally Peterson (19 December 1953 - 1969) ( divorced)

Family
Parents Not Available
Husband Wally Peterson (19 December 1953 - 1969) ( divorced)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Betty Driver Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Betty Driver worth at the age of 91 years old? Betty Driver’s income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. She is from United Kingdom. We have estimated Betty Driver's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Actress

Betty Driver Social Network

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Timeline

1922

Older sister of Freda Driver (1922-2008), whom she lived with in Cheshire, England until her death.

1934

Her early career focussed on her as a singer, appearing in musical films such as Boots! Boots! in 1934, opposite George Formby and Penny Paradise in 1938, directed by Carol Reed.

1938

In 1938, an edited version of the film was released which did not include Driver's scene. A restored version of the film (including Driver's scene) has recently been released on DVD which finally confirms the involvement of Driver in the film. At 16 she was in a West End show called Home and Beauty.

Film director Basil Dean, after seeing her in Jimmy Hunter's Brighton Follies, cast her in the 1938 film Penny Paradise, filmed at ATP studios in Ealing. After a few months of variety and radio work, she returned to the studio to make her second film, Let's Be Famous. They had just completed the film when the Second World War was announced and the studios were closed down. Nineteen at the time, Driver resumed touring the country in variety shows. It was at this time that her act and image altered. Against her mother's wishes, Driver and her sister modernised her performance and Driver became a ballad singer. Shortly after, during a six-month run in a revue called Twice In A Blue Moon, Driver and her sister parted company with their mother following a cardiac asthma attack which restricted her mobility. Driver continued in variety, opening in the Coventry Hippodrome and sharing the bill with the Andrews family - father Ted, mother Barbara and Julie.

1940

In the 1940s, she became a noted big band singer. During the Second World War, Driver travelled through Europe with ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association), entertaining the troops.

She recorded many popular tunes in the 1940s and became an established singer during this time. When she was 14, she made her first record "Jubilee Baby", and had another major success with "The Sailor with the Navy Blue Eyes" and made several more hit records. Betty travelled to Australia where she performed her own show and her career took her to Cyprus, Malta and the Middle East. On her return to England she appeared in various Ealing Comedies, on stage in The Lovebirds, Pillar to Post and What A Racket, and on television with James Bolam in Love on the Dole.

1941

She made regular trips to Bristol to sing on a radio show called Ack Ack Beer Beer and made her final film in 1941 Facing the Music.

1949

She also appeared for seven years on the radio show Henry Hall's Guest Night and on her own show, A Date with Betty, which was broadcast live from the People's Palace in London's East End on 14 July 1949. The show's format was based around Driver singing, doing sketches and introducing guests. All her words were scripted by a young Bob Monkhouse.

1960

Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Driver, MBE was a British actress and singer, best known for her role as Betty Williams (previously Betty Turpin) on the British soap opera, Coronation Street (1960) from 1969 to 2011, appearing in more than 2,800 episodes.

1964

In 1964, she auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden on the television series Coronation Street (the role went to actress Jean Alexander as the casting directors wanted someone who did not weigh as much). She was cast later in the series Pardon the Expression, a spin-off of Coronation Street alongside Arthur Lowe. She has described Lowe as "such a difficult man to work with", so after a much-publicised injury (she damaged her back after the script called for throwing Arthur Lowe), she retired and started running a pub, the Cock Hotel in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, with her sister Freda.

1965

She had previously appeared as Mrs Edgley in Coronation Street spin-off Pardon the Expression (1965-1966) opposite Arthur Lowe.

1969

In 1969, she was persuaded to come out of retirement to play police officer's wife Betty Turpin on Coronation Street, a role she would play for over 40 years. She was the longest serving barmaid in the history of the Rover's Return and Betty's Hot Pot (served at lunchtime in the Rovers) is an iconic dish, which has also been offered as a ready meal in UK supermarkets.

1976

She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1976 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.

1999

She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the Millennium New Year's Honours List on 31 December 1999.

2000

She was made an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours. At the age of 8, Driver began performing professionally, forced by her mother to appear with Terence Byron Repertory Theatre Company. She was singing for the BBC by the age of 10 and began touring across the UK in her first revue at the age of 12. While performing in London at the age of 14, Driver was spotted by the agent Bert Aza, who was in partnership with his brother Archie Pitt, Gracie Fields' husband. Despite her young age, he booked her for the lead in a revival of Mr Tower Of London, which had brought Gracie Fields to prominence 19 years earlier. She was also approached by George Formby after he and his wife Beryl Formby saw her perform in Manchester. The Formbys wanted Driver to appear in their new film Boots! Boots!, but according to Driver, when Beryl Formby saw her rehearsing, she decided that she did not want to be outperformed by Driver and sent her away; however, the producers felt so bad about the way Betty Driver was treated that they refused to take her name off the film credits, even though she did not appear in the theatrical release. In fact, it is now known that Driver did indeed perform in the film and her scene was included in the original release.

Driver wrote a memoir on her years in radio and television, called Betty, which was published in 2000.

2006

In an interview on the Parkinson show on 11 November 2006, Sir Ian McKellen revealed that Driver still drove herself into work at 07:30am each morning, despite her age.

2008

In August 2008, it was announced that Driver was one of several Coronation Street stars facing large salary cuts.

2009

Was presented her Lifetime Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards 2009 (2009) by her Coronation Street (1960) co-star Katherine Kelly. Kelly's character Becky McDonald was Driver's character Betty Williams' boss on the show.

2010

In April 2010 Driver was reportedly admitted to hospital with a chest infection.

In May 2010 Driver was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. There were also rumours that Driver was to retire, however these were confirmed as false.

Driver vowed in September 2010 never to retire stating that: "If I retire, I'll be dead in six months with boredom" and stated she still "loved" being part of Coronation Street.

2011

On 23 January 2011, Driver was the guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.