William Roache and Anne Kirkbride in character for Coronation Street
The star was expected to be absent from the show for three months. She was due to make a return this month but it was revealed just a few days ago that she was considering quitting the role that had made her famous.
Miss Kirkbride fought a battle with cancer in 1993, when she was forced to temporarily leave the soap after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She returned to the show just a year later.
In 2001 she said: "I just wanted to die because you just don't want to go on living feeling like that. But you're frightened that if you die you might still feel like that on the other side.
• Read more: Tributes flow for Coro's Anne Kirkbride
"There's no escape. It was worse than the cancer in a way because that was going to be over. I knew it was bad but I knew at the end I was going to get better. But this... was just so frightening."
William Roache, who played her on-screen husband Ken Barlow, said: "I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked closely with her for over 40 years.
"She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away. She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama.
"We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her. Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed."
Neville Buswell and Anne Kirkbride
Executive producer Kieran Roberts said: "There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing.
"We know only too acutely how much Anne meant to the millions of people who watched her create the legendary character of Deirdre Barlow.
"She will be greatly missed by the Coronation Street team who share happy memories of working with her."
Coronation Street's creator Tony Warren said: "Anne was very easy to love. Her talent over the years made a massive contribution to Coronation Street."
Miss Kirkbride was noticed by casting directors for Coronation Street when she acted in a Jack Rosenthal play for Granada Television in 1972.
She played the bit part of Deirdre Hunt in Coronation Street from November 1972.
The character's popularity grew and after further appearances in 1973, Miss Kirkbride signed a contract with the serial in 1974.
App users tap here to see Deidre Barlow's best momentss
Miss Kirkbride was one of the first generations of actors to feature on the show which was launched in 1960.
She met her husband David Beckett on the set of the show.
He played Deirdre's on-screen handyman boyfriend in the soap and the romance soon blossomed off screen.
Viewers saw her go through four marriages on the soap - to Ray Langton in 1975, Ken Barlow in 1981 and Samir Rachid in 1994 before finally remarrying Barlow in 2005.
Over the years, her character attained a cult following.
In 1998, Deirdre received the support of then Prime Minister Tony Blair after her character was jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud while her conman lover Jon Lindsay walked free.
Previously, Kirkbride said that her This Is Your Life appearance in 1998 came in the midst of her depression, when she was under the influence of addictive prescription drug Valium.
Anne Kirkbride is survived by her husband, David, her brother John, and his family.
She revealed: "I just didn't know if I was ever going to be better. I just couldn't see a way out of it. I just couldn't believe there could be a cure for what was broken in my head."
During Mr Roache's trial last year for rape, Mrs Kirkbride described the actor as a "perfect gentleman".
When asked to give one word with which she would describe Mr Roache she said:
"Lovely".
When he was cleared she wept with relief.
An ITV spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that David Beckett has confirmed tonight that his beloved wife and Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride has passed away peacefully in a Manchester hospital after a short illness.
"David and the programme's cast and crew are heartbroken and deeply saddened at the loss of Anne who has been a Coronation Street icon for 44 years."
ITV director of television Peter Fincham added: "Anne has been a truly loyal servant to Coronation Street since joining the programme in the early 1970s.
"She created a unique and unforgettable character in Deirdre Barlow and she'll be greatly missed on and off screen.
"Our sincerest condolences to Anne's husband David and her family at this very sad time."
Kirkbride is survived by her husband, David, her brother John, and his family.
- Daily Mail
