No, Anne Kirkbride did not wear glasses in real life; she wore contact lenses.
Anne Kirkbride's Eyewear in Real Life vs. On Screen
While Anne Kirkbride became iconic for the exceptionally large glasses her character, Deirdre Langton, wore on Coronation Street since 1973, her personal eyewear choice differed significantly. In her daily life, she opted for contact lenses. This distinction highlights the transformative power of character portrayal in television, where specific props like Deirdre's glasses can become synonymous with a role, even if they don't reflect the actor's real-life habits.
The table below summarizes the difference in eyewear between Anne Kirkbride's real life and her renowned character:
| Aspect | Anne Kirkbride (Real Life) | Deirdre (Coronation Street Character) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Eyewear | Contact Lenses | Exceptionally Large Glasses |
| Public Perception | Private choice | Iconic visual trademark |
| Association | Less visible | Strongly linked to the character |
Her portrayal of Deirdre was deeply ingrained in the show's history, with her character being one of the most recognizable figures due to elements like her distinctive eyewear. Beyond her glasses, Deirdre Langton's character also held a significant place in Coronation Street history, notably becoming the fourth woman on the long-running soap opera to give birth.
