Andria Lawrence (born Maureen Smith; 20 June 1936 – 17 November 2025) was an English actress and writer, best known for her roles in On the Buses, and in Coronation Street as Janet Stockwell.
Life and career Andria Lawrence is best remembered for her appearances in both the TV and film productions of the 1970s’ British sitcom On the Buses. Her performance as "Turnaround Betty" in the 1971 On the Buses film exemplified the amorous type of comic role in which she was most often cast. She was cast to similar comic type in For the Love of Ada (1972) and Man About the House (1974).
She is also remembered for her part as a pretty barmaid in a c.1970 TV advert for Courage Tavern Keg Bitter, in which her line was "Ooooh, it's too strong for me .... but I like the men who drink it!"
Lawrence demonstrated skill in drama too. She appeared in Ken Loach's acclaimed slice of gritty realism Cathy Come Home (1966) and in the Hammer Films production Countess Dracula (1971).
Lawrence was also a writer, publishing novel The Olive Tree in 2016. She died on 17 November 2025, at the age of 89.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1960 In the Nick Pub party guest, uncredited Source: IMDb1961 Dentist on the Job Uncredited1961 West End Jungle 1962 The Plain Man's Guide to Advertising Short, directed by Bob Godfrey1971 Countess Dracula Ziza 1971 On the Buses Betty 1972 For the Love of Ada Sandra 1972 Danny Jones Ice cream girl 1973 Love Thy Neighbour Norma 1974 Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell Brassy girl 1974 Man About the House Miss Bird 1976 I'm Not Feeling Myself Tonight Mrs Nutbrown
TV credits Year Title Role1960 An Arabian Knight(TV film) Slave girl1960 No Hiding Place (TV series)Episode: 'Three Small Bones' Shirley1961 No Hiding Place (TV series)Episode: 'A Girl Like Xanthe' Caroline1961 It's a Square World (TV series)Episodes: 2.2-2.6 Various1962 The Avengers (TV series)Episode: 'The Removal Men' Tourist1963 Taxi! (TV series)Episode: 'The Outing' Margot1964 The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr (Mini-series)Episode: 'Autumn Near the Angel' Cissie1965 The Wednesday Play (Anthology series)Play: '3 Clear Sundays' Gambler1965 The Wednesday Play (Anthology series)Play: 'The Coming Out Party' Sandra1965 Londoners (TV series)Episode: 'The Frighteners' Barmaid1966 The Wednesday Play (Anthology series)Play: 'Cathy Come Home' Inmate: at Home Lea1967 The Wednesday Play (Anthology series)Play: 'An Officer of the Court' Girl in club1967 Softly, Softly (TV series)Episode: 'Appointment in Wyvern' Miss Lloyd1968 The Franchise Trail(TV film) Waitress1969 Mini-series)Episode: 'Plot, Counter-Plot' Nell Gwyn1971 Doctor at Large (TV series)Episode: 'Pull the Other One!' Nurse Doreen Willett1971 On the Buses (TV series)Episode: 'Canteen Trouble' (5.7) Suzy1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)Episode: 'The Affair of the Tortoise' Vera1971 The Fenn Street Gang (TV series)Episodes: 'Distant Horizons'; 'Who Was That Lady?' Sandra1971 The Goodies (TV series)Episode: 'Farm Fresh Food' 1971 The Leslie Crowther Show (TV series)Episode: 8 April 1971 Herself1971 Coronation Street (TV series)Episode: May 1971 Applicant barmaid, Janet Stockwell1973 Van der Valk (TV series)Episode: 'A Rose for Mr Reinhart' Lottie1973 Doctor in Charge (TV series)Episode: 'The Garden Fête' Nurse Doreen Willett1974 ITV Playhouse (Anthology series)Play: 'Love Affair' Topsy1975 The Virtuoso(TV film) Mrs Flirt1975 Dixon of Dock Green (TV series)Episode: 'Pot of Gold' Barmaid1981 The Jim Davidson Show (TV series)Episode: 3.2
References
External links
Andria Lawrence on the British Film Institute website Andria Lawrence on The Actors' Compendium On the Buses website In The Plain Man's Guide to Advertising (1962), at 09.20; 11.10 In On the Buses (1971), 'Canteen Trouble' In For the Love of Ada (1972), from 01.33 Official website