Barbara was born in Oldham, Lancashire and left school at 15 to work as a post office telegraphist them in offices, factories and shops, After some amateur acting she joined Oldham Repertory and spent many years with them and touring companies plus work on radio and television. After quite a bit of television work she joined Coronation Street in 1972 playing Rita Fairclough
When the UK Sun newspaper presented her with a surprise birthday
cake to mark the occasion of her 60th birthday, Barbara was finally
forced to concede her true age, having previously pretended to be some
5 years younger.
Recipient of the TV Times award for best television actress.
She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
Made a one-episode appearance as Rita in Coronation Street (1960) in 1964, in which she was seen in a friendship with Philip Lowrie's character Dennis Tanner. In 2012, a year after he had returned to the show, the two characters rekindled this bond and got married.