Coronation Street’s ALI MARDELL TALKS ABOUT HER LOVE FOR ACTOR BOYFRIEND JOE PARKER
‘CORONATION STREET’ STAR ALEXANDRA MARDELL AND HER BOYFRIEND JOE PARKER SHARE THEIR LOVE STORY WITH ok!’s KIRSTY HATCHER
Clearly absolutely smitten, Coronation Street star Alexandra Mardell and fellow actor Joe Parker can’t help but steal kisses between shots on our exclusive OK! shoot. Alexandra, 26, known as Ali, and 25-year-old Joe were friends first, and when asked who made the first move Ali laughs: ‘That was definitely me!’
Bubbly and down to earth, Ali is full of energy and northern charm. However, on screen she has a heartbreaking storyline which has slightly mirrored her own life. Her character Emma Brooker has had to deal with losing her father, only to discover at his funeral that her real dad is in fact Steve Mcdonald, played by Simon Gregson. What fans may not know is that Ali lost her own father Michael in 2016 when he had a heart attack aged 54 after suffering from undiagnosed cardiomyopathy.
‘It was a massive shock,’ says Ali, who discovered she had a hole in her heart following her father’s death. ‘Luckily, because of my friends and family, I had the time to properly grieve so it didn’t bring me down when I had to revisit those emotions.’
Ali, who won Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards earlier this year, didn’t initially tell anyone at Corrie when they first outlined the storyline, instead preferring to take it on like she would any other. ‘When they did find out, they were really supportive,’ she says, adding: ‘But it’s very strange doing a story that happened to you in real life.’
Here, Ali and Joe, who will celebrate two years together in December, tell OK! about their next step, what Ali’s dad would have thought about her being in Corrie, and drawing on her grief for her storylines...
How did the two of you meet?
Joe: At Guildford School of Acting seven years ago.
Ali: We started as friends. We were both in other relationships, I was friends with Joe’s girlfriend and he knew my boyfriend. Then when we were both single it just happened. All our friends were like: ‘Well, that’s obvious!’ Everyone could see it but us.
Ali, you live in Manchester and Joe’s in London – how often do you see each other?
Joe: Every week. Ali gets the weekends off so she’ll either come down here or I’ll go up there. The longest we’ve been apart is two weeks when I was in Italy in August working on Romeo And Juliet. We’re going to York in December for our second anniversary.
Have you discussed getting engaged? Joe: Not yet! It’s a bit early. But we talk about moving in together. I’m thinking about moving back to Manchester, so that will be the next step.
What do you think of Ali being in Corrie, Joe? It’s brilliant. I’m really proud.
You lost your dad in 2016, Ali. What would he have thought about you being in Corrie?
It would have been embarrassing, he’d have gone mental! Before I was on any TV show, he’d always say: ‘My daughter is a star!’ I always said: ‘I’m going to be on Corrie one day!’
You’ve said your dad passed away suddenly... He had a heart attack. We weren’t aware that he was ill. He just had chest pains and then the next day he had a heart attack and passed away. It was a massive shock.
Did it push you to go for the role in Corrie?
You’ve got to go for the things you want. It gives you a new perspective. It gave me the realisation that life is short and you’ve got to accomplish what you want.
How has losing your dad affected you?
I guess it’s made me a stronger person. I miss my dad loads, but time is a healer and you’ve got to keep going and think of the good times. We were very close. I was a daddy’s girl.
Did the Corrie producers ask you how you felt about doing the storyline?
They did, but they didn’t know my dad had passed away. I didn’t talk about it as I just wanted to do the storyline how I would any other. But when they found out, they were really supportive. It’s very strange doing a storyline that happened to you in real life.
Were you able to draw on your experience? Yes, it helped. If it has happened to you it’s easier to understand it. Luckily, because of my friends and family, I had the time to properly grieve so it didn’t bring me down when I had to revisit those emotions. I could just do the job and go home. I wasn’t sad about my dad because I’d dealt with it. My dad wouldn’t want me to get down again, and it’s my job. You play the part and carry on.
Did you have grief counselling?
No, just the support of friends and family. I was open to it but it wasn’t needed.
You did the Great Manchester Run to raise money for cardiomyopathy. Was it emotional? Definitely. My dad would’ve been so proud, and shocked [laughs]! I doubt I’ll be running again!
Tell us about getting tested for cardiomyopathy yourself...
Luckily I don’t have the condition, but I do have a hole in my heart. I find it hard to run and have difficulty breathing, but I’m not sure if that’s the hole or being unfit [laughs]! I wouldn’t know as I’ve always had it. Everyone is born with one and they usually close up, but mine didn’t. I’ll have check-ups every five years. My siblings are fine, thankfully.
Angela Griffin recently returned to Corrie as Fiona Middleton, your mum. Did you get to spend time with her?
We met the day before and had a good chat. It was so nice of her. She’s a Corrie legend! I was star-struck. She was so down to earth and chilled, it felt like I’d known her for ages.
It’s been hinted that she could make a more permanent return…
I think Angela loved playing Fiona, and never say never, but she’s so talented so she’s always busy. But it would be amazing if she could ever come back permanently.
Was it exciting to find out Steve Mcdonald is your dad on Corrie?
Yes! It was ridiculous. And Simon is so funny on set. The emotional scenes were so hard because he’s a prankster! He put something under my cushion which went off with a bang when I sat down!
Who do you admire from Corrie?
All my favourite actresses started there. Katherine Kelly, Suranne Jones, Angela, Michelle Keegan, Sarah Lancashire. I’ve always thought, I have to follow their path!
You were in Doctors earlier this year, Joe.
Will you return?
It depends. I was a barman in a date rape story, so maybe if they revisit that. I’d like to do more telly. I haven’t been seen by Corrie, but I came close to a part in Emmerdale.
Tell us about your mum being best friends with Mel B’s mum, Ali...
Andrea is like my auntie but I’m still: ‘It’s the Spice Girls and Mel B!’ We went to all the concerts when we were younger, and this year Mel congratulated me for Corrie. ok!