Nan Marriott-Watson

Nan Marriott-Watson (31 August 1899 – 28 August 1982) was a British character actress and Broadway theatre performer born in West Derby, Lancashire. As the original choice to play soap opera icon Ena Sharples in Coronation Street, she appeared in the second unaired pilot episode in 1960. The part was recast with Violet Carson prior to the recording of the first episode. Notably, the actress earlier originated another core soap character, appearing as matriarch Doris Archer in the pilot episodes of The Archers in 1950. This character was also recast, with Gwen Berryman going on to play Doris for almost three decades. Marriott-Watson died in 1982 in Puttenham, Surrey.