A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Louise Duprey

 

A truly sorrowful tale of a young person who was on the road to a successful career of stardom, wealth and comfort for life.

Louise Duprey was born in Liverpool on the 26th of April 1957 and started her career in theatre being in the cast of the powerful, extremely funny and clever play 'North', which won the Liverpool Playhouse Young Writers Award. She married Geoffrey Kasseum in 1976 and the couple had one daughter together, Marcelle Duprey, who also become an actress. Louise's first TV appearance was in the BBC series 'Bread' (1989) as a journalist, and then as Frances in 'Dancin' Thru the Dark' (1990), an adaptation of Willy Russell's play 'Stags and Hens', in which a group of girls and local lads venture out for a night of pre-marriage stag and hen party. The same year she was in an episode of the TV series 'Coasting' (1990), as a bookshop assistant and had an uncredited role as a Nurse in 'Watching' (1990). Her big TV break came when she appeared as Denise in 2 episodes of Russ Abbot's drama 'September Song' (1993), This light-hearted but often poignant drama series gave Russ Abbot his first serious TV role following resounding success with 'Madhouse' and 'The Russ Abbot Show' in the 1980s. Two appearances as two different characters followed in 'One Foot in the Grave' (1992-93) before a major role came her way.

As Lisa in 'One Foot in the Grave' (1992)

In 1993 she joined the cast of 'Coronation Street' as Amy Nelson, a Bettabuy checkout operator who dated Andy McDonald when he worked there during his Easter break from Sheffield University. Amy was a few years older than Andy and had a five-year-old son called Dominic, whose father Errol lived in Trinidad. She had been set for a long run in the Soap with her character being due to marry her on-screen love interest, Andy. However, in late 1993, just as the wedding scenes were about to be recorded, the pressure of starring in Britain's No1 show, coupled with becoming a big name and public property, had got to her. Louise suffered a breakdown and locked herself in the dressing room toilets and wouldn't come out. The TV station doctors saw that she was suffering from nervous exhaustion and immediately sent her home. Within days they had seen her again, but it was clear she was never going to come back. A storywriters' conference was quickly convened and scripts were redrafted. In the programme, viewers saw the engagement between the characters of Andy McDonald and Amy Nelson being hurriedly 'broken off' and Street bosses brought in an unknown double, Melanie Brown, for the final scenes - one Mel B, who went on to 'Spice Girl' fame.

As Amy Nelson

As quick as Louise's character Amy Nelson had been rocketed to national fame, she was written out of the Soap and instead of seeing Amy tie the knot, TV viewers saw her leave Andy to go back to her native Trinidad with son Dominic to be with former lover Errol. Louise had been set to explore the racial marriage avenue which would have been a big subject for the 'soap' back in 1993. 

Soon after quitting, Louise moved back from London to her native Liverpool where she lived in a converted 1930s detached house in Mossley Hill, near Liverpool University.
The actress blamed the heavy workload for her departure, saying, "I was simply worn out after working eight months solid. I just couldn't switch off at home. I was being written into the show more and more. I didn't feel frightened about it, but I didn't want to let anyone down. After leaving I am trying to take each day as it comes. I can now live my life normally, and know that in a couple of months I'll probably be old news." In Liverpool she withdrew from the limelight altogether, and became increasingly reclusive. In February 2000, aged 42, she was found dead in her rented flat and the cause of death was established to be a drug overdose. A Street spokesperson said, "Louise's death is very sad news. She was a lovely girl and our deepest sympathy goes to all her family. Coronation Street had big plans for her character, but sadly it was never to be. If things had gone well there is no doubt that Louise could have still been in the programme to this day." A neighbour said, "I knew she had been in Coronation Street, but she was very solitary - a bit of a recluse. She lived upstairs for five years but in all that time I only spoke to her once. When anyone called to the flat she never let them in. It is really sad to think she died alone."

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/03/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians.html