Anna Windass is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Debbie Rush. The character was introduced in the episode first broadcast on 14 November 2008. Rush announced her decision to leave the series in July 2017 and Anna departed in the episode first broadcast on 22 January 2018. She appeared in two further episodes first broadcast on 31 May to 1 June 2018.
Anna's storylines have included: a rocky relationship to her long-term partner, Eddie Windass (Steve Huison); feuds with the Platt family, Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) and Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor); her wayward son Gary's (Mikey North) decision to enroll into the army; her turbulent relationship with Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies); adopting Faye Butler (Ellie Leach), who later alleges that Anna is abusing her; being blackmailed by Owen's client-turned-business partner Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) into having sex with him; facing bankruptcy following the end of her relationship with Owen; coping with Faye's underage pregnancy; a relationship with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell); getting severely burnt in a car explosion unwittingly caused by Gary's old rival David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd); and being framed by Phelan for pushing his apprentice and Faye's boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) off a ladder, which resulted in her wrongful five-years imprisonment, leading to her first departure.
The character was released off-screen after Phelan's crimes were finally exposed, and Anna returned for her two final episodes; the first on 31 May 2018 where she rescues Gary and his girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien) from Phelan's captivity, and the second on 1 June 2018 where she ultimately kills Phelan by mortally stabbing him with a knife after he shot his own daughter Nicola Rubinstein (Nicola Thorp) and then local resident Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) with a gun. Anna then decides to leave Weatherfield - thus concluding the character's story arc.
Storylines
Anna first appears on screen with her long-term boyfriend Eddie (Steve Huison) when they refuse to pay Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) for a kitchen refit. David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) then tries to force them to pay but after they refuse, he makes a number of threats, resulting in David, Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) setting fire to the Windasses' kitchen.
The Windass family move into No. 6 Coronation Street with the rest of her family. She has a heart-to-heart with new neighbour Gail Platt (Helen Worth) to make peace as she wants a fresh start in Coronation Street even though their families are feuding and convinces Eddie to make peace with Gail's partner, Joe. This ends badly at Christmas, as Gail's invitation for the Windasses to stop in for dinner soon leads to Joe throwing food at them and forcing them out of the house.
As the New Year begins, Anna is dismayed as she senses Eddie sinking back into his con artist ways; she always objected to them and her character shows her desire to live a free life without stealing and scrounging money from society,. However the feud between her son Gary (Mikey North) and David Platt grows more volatile and in March 2009 she is relieved when Gary is cleared of assaulting David and Anna attempts to influence Gail and Tina to make David drop the charges. She is also seen breaking down on a number of occasions, trying to hold her family together.
In April 2009, Roy Cropper (David Neilson) gives Anna a job in the café. Initially, Roy's wife Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh) is sceptical but is impressed by Anna's work ethic and she continues to work there. Hayley also takes Anna's side when Eddie steals and poses as Roy in a scam to receive free alcohol from the cash-and-carry.
Anna is dismayed in 2010 when Gary decides that he wants to join the army. She fears for his life on the front line, but eventually comes to terms with his career decision. However, Anna is later dismayed when Gary is reported as being AWOL; after she comforts him over his secret fears he returns to duty. 2010 also sees Anna and Eddie looking into adopting a child. Anna's nephew, Rory visits while his parents are on holiday. Eddie is seen pushing Rory round in a pram, upsetting Becky as she thinks that Anna and Eddie have been given a child.