If you grew up watching British sitcoms from the 1970s, Carol Hawkins’s face probably feels like an old friend. She was the kind of actress who could steal a scene with a single exasperated look—whether playing a put-upon secretary in Please Sir! or a holidaymaker in Carry On Abroad. But after decades of making audiences laugh, she stepped away from the spotlight around 2005. Here’s what happened to her, and what she’s been doing since.
Born: 31 January 1949 ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Nationality: English ·
Years active: 1969–early 2000s ·
Known for: Comic roles in 1970s sitcoms and films ·
Retired: Yes
Quick snapshot
- Born 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire (Carol Hawkins Official Website)
- First film: The Body Stealers (1969) (IMDb)
- Best known for Please Sir!, Porridge, and two Carry On films (Wikipedia)
- Retired from acting in the early 2000s (Carol Hawkins Official Website)
- Exact net worth (no reliable source)
- Details of marriage and children (speculative)
- Precise post-retirement career (only fan accounts)
- 1949: Born in Barnet (Official site)
- 1969–1970s: Peak TV and film comedy work (Official site)
- ~2005: Retired from acting (Official site)
- Living a private life away from cameras (Carol Hawkins Official Website)
- Maintains an official website as her public presence (Carol Hawkins Official Website)
A few key facts sum up Carol Hawkins’s biography at a glance.
| Born | 31 January 1949 |
| Place of Birth | Barnet, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Nationality | English |
| Years Active | 1969–early 2000s |
| Known For | Comic roles in 1970s sitcoms and Carry On films |
| Retired | Yes |
What is Carol Hawkins best known for?
Early career and breakthrough
- Hawkins trained as a shorthand typist at Pitman’s College before attending the Corona Stage Academy in Hammersmith (Wikipedia).
- Her first screen appearance came in the sci-fi film The Body Stealers (1969) (IMDb).
- Her official website identifies the sitcom Please Sir! as the project that launched her career (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
Notable television sitcoms
- She played Sharon Eversleigh in the film version of Please Sir! and later in The Fenn Street Gang (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
- She portrayed Sandra in the BBC series Porridge (Wikipedia).
- Later TV credits include That’s My Boy (1981), The Bill (1984), My Husband and I (1987), El C.I.D. (1990), Hollyoaks (1995), and Doctors (2000) (Plex).
Carry On film appearances
- Hawkins appeared in two Carry On films: Carry On Abroad (1972) as Marge, and Carry On Behind (1975) as Sandra (Wikipedia).
- She also starred in Zeta One (1969), When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970), and Not Now, Comrade (1976) (Filmfansite).
Later roles and retirement
- Her last credited television role was an episode of Doctors in 2004, according to a fan-maintained blog (Carry On Fan Blog).
- Her official website states she “more or less retired” around 2005 (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
- Wikipedia still lists her years active as “1969–present,” but this conflicts with the official account (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: Carol Hawkins made her name through cheerful comic roles in 1970s British TV and film. For fans of classic sitcoms, she remains a familiar face—but she stopped taking new roles in the mid-2000s.
How old is Carol Hawkins?
Birth date and place
- Carol Hawkins was born on 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
- As of 2025, she is 76 years old.
Early life
- Before acting, she trained as a shorthand typist at Pitman’s College (Wikipedia).
- She then attended the Corona Stage Academy in Hammersmith, London (Wikipedia).
Nationality and identity
- She is English by nationality (Wikipedia).
Official sources confirm her birth date and early training, yet many biographical details—her education timeline, her family background—remain thin. The public record is a sketch, not a full portrait.
What is Carol Hawkins doing now?
Retirement from acting
- Her official website confirms she stepped back from the profession in the early 2000s (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
- A fan blog suggests she retired fully in 2005 and moved to Spain (Carry On Fan Blog).
New career or passion
- According to the same fan blog, she reportedly devoted herself to animal welfare and spiritual matters after retiring (Carry On Fan Blog).
- TV Tropes repeats this claim (TV Tropes). Neither source is authoritative.
Public appearances and legacy
- She maintains an official website (carolhawkins.co.uk) that serves as her only public-facing presence (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
- She makes few public appearances.
Bottom line: Carol Hawkins is no longer acting and lives a private life. Fans looking for current information will find a modest official site but little else—a quiet ending for a once-familiar comic face.
Confirmed facts
- Born 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire
- English actress
- First film: The Body Stealers (1969)
- Known for Please Sir!, Porridge, and two Carry On films
- Retired from acting by early 2000s
What’s unclear
- Existence and names of children
- Identity of first husband or spouses
- Exact net worth
- Specific post-retirement career details
“I worked extensively in television, film, and theatre until I more or less retired in 2005.”
— Carol Hawkins, Carol Hawkins Official Website
“A post on Classic TV Moments noted that she had taken up a new passion since retiring—animal welfare and spiritual pursuits.”
— Carry On Fan Blog
The two voices—her own, measured and official; the other, second-hand and affectionate—offer the only windows into what came after the applause stopped. The picture is consistent: she chose a quiet life away from the industry that made her a household name.
For fans of British comedy, the takeaway is bittersweet: one of the familiar faces from a golden era of sitcoms has fully stepped out of view. Her legacy rests on a handful of still-watchable performances from the 1970s. There’s no comeback in sight, and no indication she wants one.
tv.apple.com, rottentomatoes.com, trendforge.uk, kinomania.ru, elcinema.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Carol Hawkins’ net worth?
No reliable public estimate exists. Any figures online are speculative.
Is Carol Hawkins still alive?
Yes. She was born 31 January 1949 and is alive as of 2025, though she lives privately.
What was Carol Hawkins’ first film?
Her first credited film was The Body Stealers (1969) (IMDb).
Is Carol Hawkins related to Sally Hawkins?
No relation. Sally Hawkins is a different English actress (born 1976).
How many Carry On films did Carol Hawkins appear in?
Two: Carry On Abroad (1972) and Carry On Behind (1975) (Wikipedia).
What TV series is Carol Hawkins known for?
She is best known for Please Sir!, its spin-off The Fenn Street Gang, and Porridge (Carol Hawkins Official Website).
Where can I find Carol Hawkins photos?
Her official website (carolhawkins.co.uk) has a small gallery. Additional images appear on Getty Images and fan sites.
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Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.