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Sara Coward

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Sara Coward
Born(1948-01-30)30 January 1948
Eltham, London, England
Died12 February 2017(2017-02-12) (aged 69)
Warwickshire, England
NationalityEnglish
Alma mater
OccupationActress
Years active1970–2016
Known forRole of Caroline Sterling in The Archers

Sara Coward (30 January 1948 – 12 February 2017) was an English actress. She was best known as the voice of Caroline Sterling in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers.

Early life[change | change source]

Sara Coward was born in Eltham, South East London, England on 30 January 1948. She had two elder brothers, John and David.[1]

Coward attended a local girls' grammar school. She read English and drama at Bristol University.[1]

Career[change | change source]

Coward won the Carleton Hobbs award at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, which lead to a six-month contract with the BBC drama department.[1]

Coward joined the cast of the BBC Radio 4 radio soap opera The Archers in 1977, as the voice of Caroline Sterling (3 June 1955 – 10 July 2017). She left the serial in September 2016.[2] She appeared in a scene, which was broadcast on 12 April 2012, when Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall made a cameo appearance.[3] In January 2017, 40 days before her death, Coward had said that she wanted Caroline to survive; in the episode broadcast on 11 July 2017, it was revealed that Caroline had died suddenly but peacefully at the Sterlings' second home in Italy.[4]

Coward was a trained and licensed acupuncturist.[2]

Personal life[change | change source]

Coward once moved to France on a whim; returning a year later speaking fluent French.[1] She had owned pet rescue greyhounds.[2]

Charity work[change | change source]

Coward volunteered for the Samaritans.[5]

Illness and death[change | change source]

Coward was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.[6][7][8] She underwent a mastectomy, however, a lump was found in her neck afterwards and she was further diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016.[9][10][11]

Coward died at a hospice in Warwickshire on 12 February 2017. She was 69.[12][13][14][15][16] Coward was survived by her mother and her brother, David.[1]

Coward had launched SM:)E ("smile"), a campaign to encourage people to be friendly and kind to each other, during her last weeks.[17]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "The Archers actor Sara Coward dies at 69". The Guardian. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "BBC Radio 4 - The Archers - Caroline Sterling". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. "Camilla stars in The Archers". Evening Standard. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  4. "Terminally-ill Archers actress wants her character to survive". BBC News. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  5. "Tribute to Sara Coward, Archers actress and Samaritans volunteer". Samaritans. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  6. "Sara Coward, Caroline in The Archers – obituary". The Telegraph. 13 February 2017. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  7. Shahid, Sharnaz (13 February 2017). "The Archers actress Sara Coward dies aged 69". HELLO!. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. "Archers actress Sara Coward dies of cancer, aged 69". STV News. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. "Sara Coward: Archers actress dies of cancer aged 69". ITVX. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  10. "The Archers actress Sara Coward dies from cancer aged 69". Sky News. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. Shepherd, Jack (13 February 2017). "Sara Coward dead: The Archers's Caroline Sterling dies aged 69". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. "Sara Coward, The Archers' Caroline Sterling, dies at 69". BBC News. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. Ratcliffe, Hannah (13 February 2017). "Sara Coward (Caroline Sterling) has died". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  14. Warner, Sam (13 February 2017). "The Archers actress Sara Coward, who played Caroline Sterling, dies aged 69". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  15. "The Archers actress Sara Coward dies aged 69". Radio Times. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  16. Walford, Jessica (17 February 2024). "The Archers legend Sara Coward dies aged 69 after nearly four decades starring in the radio soap". Metro. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. Dray, Kayleigh. "Archers star unveils kindness campaign after terminal cancer diagnosis". Stylist. Retrieved 29 May 2024.