Alma Halliwell
| Alma Halliwell | |||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Amanda Barrie | ||||||||
| Duration | 1981–1982, 1988–2001 | ||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 2110 22 June 1981 |
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| Last appearance | Episode 5060 20 June 2001 |
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| Introduced by | Bill Podmore (1981–1982, 1988) Mervyn Watson (1989) |
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| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
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| Occupation | Caterer (1982–96) Café owner (1982–96) Assistant supermarket manager (1996–2001) |
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| Father | George Halliwell |
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| Mother | Florrie Halliwell |
| Husband | Jim Sedgewick (until 1982) Mike Baldwin (1992–1999) |
| First cousins | Richard Hillman |
Alma Marie Halliwell (also Sedgewick and Baldwin) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Amanda Barrie. Alma was featured as a recurring character from 1981 to 1982; however, she was reintroduced as a regular in 1988. She remained in the show for a further 13 years, featuring in high-profile storylines such as a problematic marriage to the long-running character Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs), kidnapping, and a supermarket siege. Barrie decided to leave the soap in 2001, and Alma was killed-off in a controversial cervical cancer storyline.
Alma Halliwell is first introduced in 1981 as the wife of cafe owner, Jim Sedgewick (Michael O'Hagan). The marriage is a disaster and when Alma falls pregnant a year later, she has an abortion rather than bring a child into their loveless home. Alma takes over Jim's Café after they divorce in 1982. She emigrates to Florida for a while with a pools winner named Phillip but when he squanders the money, Alma returns to Weatherfield. The character properly begins to make an impact when she takes a more active role in the management of the café in late 1988. This is the beginning of a long-running working relationship with Gail Tilsley (Helen Worth), who becomes Alma's business partner in 1989, until Alma sells her share to Roy Cropper (David Neilson) in 1996.
Alma has a tempestuous on-off relationship with Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). They date but he dumps her and marries Jackie Ingram (Shirin Taylor) in 1990. Alma then dates Mike's enemy, Ken Barlow (William Roache), but she is seduced by Mike after he decides he wants her back and her relationship with Ken dissolves. Alma and Mike marry in 1992. Alma is often the motherly, sympathetic, liberal-minded character in many storylines, particularly off-setting her husband's often harsh and high-minded attitudes. Mike's patronising and chauvinistic mannerisms alienate Alma at times; she occasionally rebels, buying herself a 1979 MG Midget convertible and seeking employment against his wishes. Alma considers straying briefly with Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) - son of Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) and Gail's half-brother - in 1996. She makes a pass at him but is rebuffed and is hurt further when Mike responds with nonchalance to the incident. She is then caught up in the plight of Don Brennan (Geoffrey Hinsliff). Alma feels sympathy for Don after Mike sells him a garage business at a knowingly inflated price and then watches him go bankrupt. Don eventually has a breakdown, becoming obsessed with revenge on Mike. After attempting to frame Mike for arson and insurance fraud, he kidnaps Alma, driving her into the river in his taxi; both survive. His last act is to steal Alma's car and drive into the viaduct at the end of Coronation Street, killing himself. Alma and Mike separate in 1999 when Alma discovers that Mike has cheated on her; they eventually divorce and Alma moves in with Audrey.
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