# Nan Marriott-Watson

Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson (31 December 1899 – 28 August 1982), known professionally as Nan Marriott-Watson, was an English actress and dramatist. She appeared on Broadway.

## Biography
### Early life

Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson was born in West Derby, Lancashire, England on 31 December 1899, as the only child to Frank McDonald Watson (1865–1944), an actor, and his wife, Florence Reviere (née Brown; 1872–1956), also known by her stage surname, Edwin. She was born on the last day of the 19th century. She was baptised at St Mary's, Grassendale on 26 January 1900. Her paternal uncle was H. B. (Henry Brereton) Marriott Watson, an author, and his wife, Rosamund Marriott Watson, a poet, was her aunt, by marriage.

### Death

Marriott-Watson died in Puttenham, Surrey on 28 August 1982. She was 82.

## Career

Marriott-Watson volunteered with the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment during World War One. She worked at military hospitals in Gateshead and Bishop Auckland. She also worked in nursing at Victoria Hospital in Keighley.
Marriott-Watson began her professional career in theatre in July 1920. She appeared on Broadway. She co-wrote Lass o' Laughter, with Edith Carter. The original production opened at the Comedy Theatre in New York City on 8 January 1925 and ran until 1 February. She played A Lady in Fashion in If. The original production opened at the Little Theatre in Rochester, New York on 25 October 1927 and ran until 1 November. She played Mabs Kellet in Diversion. The original production opened at the 49th Street Theatre in Manhattan on 11 January 1928 and ran until 1 March.
Marriott-Watson started working for the BBC on 1 September 1930. She appeared in numerous radio productions.
The script for the comedy crime film Miss Tulip Stays the Night (1955) was based on a radio play by Marriott-Watson that had been performed on Australian radio in 1948.
Marriott-Watson was the original choice to play Ena Sharples in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in the second unaired pilot episode in 1960. The character was recast to Violet Carson prior to the recording of the first episode. Notably, she earlier originated another core soap character, voicing matriarch Doris Archer in the BBC Home Service radio soap opera The Archers, for the pilot episode on 29 May 1950. This character was also recast, with Gwen Berryman going on to voice Doris for almost three decades.
Marriott-Watson retired in 1978, after 62 years in the industry.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | The Man in Armour | Mrs. Topping-Banger | Episode: "Armour for Sale!" |
| 1956 | Tomorrow May Be Fine | Bessie Thompson | Television film |
| 1956 | Tearaway | Mrs. Molden | Television film |
| 1956 | Without Love | Old woman | Television film |
| 1957 | Joyous Errand | Glad | Episode: "Episode #1.4", credited as; Marriott Watson |
| 1957, 1958, 1959 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Bertha, Washerwoman, Meg | 3 episodes |
| 1957 | Aladdin | Aladdin's mother | Television film |
| 1958 | Angel Pavement | Charwoman | Episode: "Episode #1.4" |
| 1958 | The Invisible Armies | Madame Meister | Episode: "Episode #1.4" |
| 1958 | Television Playwright | Alice Hesketh | Episode: "Red Rose for Ransom" |
| 1958 | Champion Road | Grandma Pilling | 3 episodes |
| 1959 | The Wanderer | Mrs. Wilkinson | Episode: "Detective Story" |
| 1959 | The Gay Dog | Aunt Minnie | Television film |
| 1959 | A Ride on the Donkeys | Mrs. Jackson | Television film |
| 1960 | BBC Sunday-Night Play | Gran Tatlock | Episode: "Summer Theatre: June Evening" |
| 1960 | An Age of Kings | Mother Jordan | Episode: "Part Ten: The Fall of a Protector", credited as: Nan Marriott Watson |
| 1960, 1961, 1963 | Maigret | Madame Trochu, Concierge | 3 episodes, credited as; Nan Marriott Watson |
| 1960 | Tales from Dickens | Innkeeper's wife | Episode: "Christmas at Dingley Dell" |
| 1960 | Coronation Street: Second Dry Run | Ena Sharples | Television film |
| 1961 | They Met in a City | Mrs. Livingstone | Episode: "Ladies from a Spa" |
| 1961 | Four Winds Island | Headmistress | |
| 1961 | On the Boundary | Mrs. Hackitt | Television film |
| 1961 | Hurricane | Matron | Episode: "Part 1" |
| 1961 | Jack's Horrible Luck | Jean | |
| 1961 | The Train Set | Gran | Television film |
| 1963 | Jane Eyre | Grace Poole | 4 episodes |
| 1963 | The Saint | Mrs. Whicker | Episode: "The Sporting Chance", credited as; Nan Marriot-Watson |
| 1964 | Dr. Finlay's Casebook | Mrs. Clegg | Episode: "My Late Dear Husband" |
| 1964 | Madame Bovary | Madame Bovary | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | Sherlock Holmes | Annie | Episode: "The Speckled Band" |
| 1964 | Detective | Annie | Episode: "The Speckled Band" |
| 1964 | ITV Play of the Week | Market woman | Episode: "Crime and Punishment" |
| 1965 | 199 Park Lane | Janet Redell | 9 episodes |
| 1965, 1975 | Z Cars | Mrs. Jameson, Sally | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | Dixon of Dock Green | Hilda Butler | Episode: "S for Squealer" |
| 1966 | Mr. John Jorrocks | Gypsy | Episode: "If We Encourage Vulgar People Coming Here, We Might Not the Matter End?" |
| 1966 | Thirteen Against Fate | Madame Canut | Episode: "The Survivors" |
| 1967 | No Hiding Place | The Landlady | Episode: "The Price on My Head" |
| 1967–1968 | Crossroads Motel | Nora/Norah Gillingham | 17 episodes |
| 1968 | Theatre 625 | Jeannette | Episode: "The Fanatic" |
| 1968 | The First Lady | Amy Tarrant | Episode: "A Time of Fear" |
| 1969 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Aunt | Episode: "These Men Are Dangerous: Hitler" |
| 1969 | On the Run | Charwoman | |
| 1969 | The Wednesday Play | In Ulster | Episode: "Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage" |
| 1974 | Within These Walls | Milly Jones | Episode: "Prisoner by Marriage" |
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