Rita May (actress)


Rita May is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Mags in the ITV children's drama Children's Ward, Margaret in the Sky One sitcom Trollied, and Julie "Nana" Booth in the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge.

Career

May began her career as a singer on the working men's club circuit in and around South Yorkshire. She featured in the television adaptation of Barry Hines's The Price of Coal, a Play for Today first broadcast in 1977, and as Jimmy Kemp's mother in the Hines's scripted nuclear war drama Threads in 1984.
She has also appeared in television series such as Early Doors and Drop Dead Gorgeous, and radio programmes including Ed Reardon's Week and The Blackburn Files. In 2005, she appeared in one episode of Heartbeat. In March 2009, it was announced that May would appear as Connie Rathbone, a new love interest of Jack Duckworth, in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.
From 2011 to 2018, she appeared in the Sky One sitcom Trollied, in which she played Margaret, a supermarket assistant pharmacist. In 2017, May appeared in Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge as Julie "Nana" Booth. Her character died in the fourth episode of the series. She later appeared in an episode of the third series of Ackley Bridge in 2019, as part of a scene with Missy Booth.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977Play for TodayKath Storey2 episodes
1978Fallen HeroMolly1 episode
1978Coronation StreetMarjorie Pitts2 episodes
1979Crown CourtZoe Grimshaw1 episode
1981Coronation StreetFreda1 episode
1982Play for TodayPat1 episode
1983The Gathering SeedMartha Kilbride5 episodes
1984Juliet BravoAudrey Mason1 episode
1984ThreadsMrs. KempTelevision film
1984MitchEnid1 episode
1985Edge of DarknessTea LadyMini series
1988Wish Me LuckMarguerite1 episode
1989–2000Children's WardMagsMain role
1991The BillDoreen NoakesMinor role
1994HeartbeatJunk Shop OwnerMinor role
1996Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesSupermarket ShopperCameo role
1998The CopsPauline's NeighbourCameo role
1998Sharpe's JusticeMrs. TrentTelevision film
1998CasualtyMarion Copes1 episode
1999My Wonderful LifeMrs. Newell1 episode
2000City CentralBetty Sharples1 episode
2000Fat FriendsJoan KirkRecurring role
2000Coronation StreetMrs. Wilberforce1 episode
2001In DeepJoan Jameson2 episodes
2001Clocking OffBrenda Sleight1 episode
2001Coronation StreetBrenda Kelly1 episode
2001DoctorsEileen Neville1 episode
2002Blood StrangersPat BeresfordTelevision film
2003The RoyalAunt Mary GrahamMinor role
2003Last of the Summer WineCeliaMinor role
2003–2004Early DoorsJeanMain role
2004Holby CityQueenie Taylor1 episode
2004The BillSchool SecretaryMinor role
2004DoctorsSadie O'Malley1 episode
2005No AngelsMrs. ClemenceMinor role
2005BodiesJudith Bailey1 episode
2005, 2007HeartbeatMrs. Sneddon2 episodes
2006The StreetMargie's FriendCameo role
2006CasualtyEileen Slater1 episode
2006–2007Drop Dead GorgeousNana HowardRecurring role
2008Trexx and FlipsideEdna1 episode
2008SunshineDoreenMinor role
2008DoctorsMaggie Wilson1 episode
2009–2010Coronation StreetConnie RathboneRecurring role
2009Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974Aunty WinTelevision film
2009This MorningHerselfGuest
2010CasualtyEileen Thompson1 episode
2010DoctorsPhyllis March1 episode
2011–2018TrolliedMargaretMain role; 68 episodes
2011DoctorsMary Roberts1 episode
2012The ArgumentMaureenTelevision film
2014Remember MeMavisMinor role
2017, 2019Ackley BridgeJulie "Nana" BoothRecurring role; 5 episodes
2018CasualtyMatilda Dunford1 episode
2019Emelia Merchent1 episode
2020Tea for ThreeGran1 episode
2020Baby ZoomersValerie1 episode