Andria Lawrence
Andria Lawrence | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maureen Smith 20 June 1936 London, England |
| Died | 17 November 2025 (aged 89) |
| Other name | Andrea Lawrence |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse | Heinz Dorler (1993–?) |
Andria Lawrence (born Maureen Smith; 20 June 1936 – 17 November 2025) was an English actress and writer, best known for her roles in On the Buses, and in Coronation Street as Janet Stockwell.[1]
Life and career
[edit]Andria Lawrence is best remembered for her appearances in both the TV and film productions of the 1970s’ British sitcom On the Buses. Her performance as "Turnaround Betty" in the 1971 On the Buses film exemplified the amorous type of comic role in which she was most often cast.[2] She was cast to similar comic type in For the Love of Ada (1972) and Man About the House (1974).[3]
She is also remembered for her part as a pretty barmaid in a c.1970 TV advert for Courage Tavern Keg Bitter, in which her line was "Ooooh, it's too strong for me .... but I like the men who drink it!"
Lawrence demonstrated skill in drama too. She appeared in Ken Loach's acclaimed slice of gritty realism Cathy Come Home (1966) and in the Hammer Films production Countess Dracula (1971).[4]
Lawrence was also a writer, publishing novel The Olive Tree in 2016.[1] She died on 17 November 2025, at the age of 89.[5]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | In the Nick | Pub party guest, uncredited | Source: IMDb[6] |
| 1961 | Dentist on the Job | Uncredited | |
| 1961 | West End Jungle | ||
| 1962 | The Plain Man's Guide to Advertising | Short, directed by Bob Godfrey | |
| 1971 | Countess Dracula | Ziza | |
| 1971 | On the Buses | Betty | |
| 1972 | For the Love of Ada | Sandra | |
| 1972 | Danny Jones | Ice cream girl | |
| 1973 | Love Thy Neighbour | Norma | |
| 1974 | Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell | Brassy girl | |
| 1974 | Man About the House | Miss Bird | |
| 1976 | I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight | Mrs Nutbrown |
TV credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | An Arabian Knight (TV film) | Slave girl |
| 1960 | No Hiding Place (TV series) Episode: 'Three Small Bones' | Shirley |
| 1961 | No Hiding Place (TV series) Episode: 'A Girl Like Xanthe' | Caroline |
| 1961 | It's a Square World (TV series) Episodes: 2.2-2.6 | Various |
| 1962 | The Avengers (TV series) Episode: 'The Removal Men' | Tourist |
| 1963 | Taxi! (TV series) Episode: 'The Outing' | Margot |
| 1964 | The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr (Mini-series) Episode: 'Autumn Near the Angel' | Cissie |
| 1965 | The Wednesday Play (Anthology series) Play: '3 Clear Sundays' | Gambler |
| 1965 | The Wednesday Play (Anthology series) Play: 'The Coming Out Party' | Sandra |
| 1965 | Londoners (TV series) Episode: 'The Frighteners' | Barmaid |
| 1966 | The Wednesday Play (Anthology series) Play: 'Cathy Come Home' | Inmate: at Home Lea |
| 1967 | The Wednesday Play (Anthology series) Play: 'An Officer of the Court' | Girl in club |
| 1967 | Softly, Softly (TV series) Episode: 'Appointment in Wyvern' | Miss Lloyd |
| 1968 | The Franchise Trail (TV film) | Waitress |
| 1969 | The First Churchills (Miniseries|Mini-series) Episode: 'Plot, Counter-Plot' | Nell Gwyn |
| 1971 | Doctor at Large (TV series) Episode: 'Pull the Other One!' | Nurse Doreen Willett |
| 1971 | On the Buses (TV series) Episode: 'Canteen Trouble' (5.7) | Suzy |
| 1971 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (TV series) Episode: 'The Affair of the Tortoise' | Vera |
| 1971 | The Fenn Street Gang (TV series) Episodes: 'Distant Horizons'; 'Who Was That Lady?' | Sandra |
| 1971 | The Goodies (TV series) Episode: 'Farm Fresh Food' | |
| 1971 | The Leslie Crowther Show (TV series) Episode: 8 April 1971 | Herself |
| 1971 | Coronation Street (TV series) Episode: May 1971 | Applicant barmaid, Janet Stockwell |
| 1973 | Van der Valk (TV series) Episode: 'A Rose for Mr Reinhart' | Lottie |
| 1973 | Doctor in Charge (TV series) Episode: 'The Garden Fête' | Nurse Doreen Willett |
| 1974 | ITV Playhouse (Anthology series) Play: 'Love Affair' | Topsy |
| 1975 | The Virtuoso (TV film) | Mrs Flirt |
| 1975 | Dixon of Dock Green (TV series) Episode: 'Pot of Gold' | Barmaid |
| 1981 | The Jim Davidson Show (TV series) Episode: 3.2 |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Andria Lawrence (Turnaround Betty)". On the Buses Fanclub. 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ↑ "On The Buses cast visit senior club". Borehamwood & Elstree Times. 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ↑ Walker, Craig (2016). On the Buses: The Complete Story. Apex Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1785384806.
- ↑ "Film and TV actress Andria Lawrence signs copies of her book in Petersfield". Petersfield Post. 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ↑ "Andria Lawrence Dorler". The Times. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ↑ "Andrea Lawrence". IMDb. 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
External links
[edit]- Andria Lawrence at IMDb
- Andria Lawrence on the British Film Institute website
- Andria Lawrence on The Actors' Compendium
- On the Buses website
- In The Plain Man's Guide to Advertising (1962), at 09.20; 11.10
- In On the Buses (1971), 'Canteen Trouble'
- In For the Love of Ada (1972), from 01.33
- Official website