b. 5 March 1932, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, d. 10 November 2006, Coventry, Warwickshire, England. Intent on a showbusiness career from early childhood, Coupland switched from ballet following an accident and began singing. At the age of 11 she appeared on a BBC radio show and at 14 was singing often at the Mecca Locarno dancehall in Leeds. The following year, her family moved to London where she continued to sing, now at the Mecca ballroom on Tottenham Court Road. Among the bands with which she performed were those led by Stanley Black and Geraldo. She also sang at leading London hotels, including the Dorchester and the Savoy. From the late 50s and into the early 60s she appeared in stage musicals, including Make Me An Offer, Darling and Gigi. During the 60s she abandoned singing for acting, appearing in several television plays and series, including Dixon Of Dock Green, Z Cars, Softly, Softly and Please Sir! In 1972 she took the role of Jean Abbot in the situation comedy, Bless This House, playing opposite Sid James. Although critically dismissed, the show was very popular with the viewing public and ran for five years, when James’ death brought it to an end. Through the late 70s and on into the early 00s, Coupland appeared in some films, including The Millionairess (1960), Charlie Bubbles (1967) and Spring And Port Wine (1970). Behind the scenes, she also provided the singing voice for Lana Turner in Betrayed (1954) and for Ursula Andress in Dr. No (1962). Coupland was often on television, appearing in plays, series and situation comedies, including A Raging Calm, Wilde Alliance, Triangle, Juliet Bravo, Maigret, Redcap, One Foot In The Grave, EastEnders, Doctors, Casualty and Rose And Maloney. Coupland was married for 20 years to composer Monty Norman, then, from 1980, to television producer Marc Miller. Active with charity work, she was patron of National Lupus UK, and was also president of a hospice. Coupland suffered from heart disease and died following surgery.