‘It was a really hard decision to quit Corrie’
Star Michelle recalls ‘the best job, the best people’
MICHELLE Keegan has opened up about the ‘hard’ decision to leave Coronation Steet and some of the words of support she received from one of the soap’s legends.
The actress is currently promoting her starring role in one of Netflix’s new big dramas.
Stockport-born Michelle is portraying the lead role of Maya Stern, who is trying to come to terms with the brutal murder of her husband, Joe, played by Obsession’s Richard Armitage in the new streaming service’s adaptation of bestselling author Harlan Coben’s book.
But it was appearing on Corrie that Michelle’s career took off.
The now-36-year-old was offered the part of Tina McIntyre in the ITV soap in only her second-ever audition in 2007.
And, as we now know, she accepted the role, beating around 900 other people who auditioned.
Tina made her Weatherfield debut when she had a chance encounter with
David Platt while her character was visiting the Rosamund Street Medical Centre.
During her time in Corrie, Michelle won a host of British Soap Awards, including for Best Actress and Sexiest Female.
But, after being cast aside by Peter Barlow after an affair between the pair, Tina got into a confrontation with Rob Donovan, the brother of Peter’s partner Carla Connor and threatened to report him to the authorities about his dodgy dealings.
Tina was then pushed off the balcony of the builder’s yard and beaten unconscious by Rob in an attempt to silence her. She later died in hospital, leading to Michelle’s exit in 2014.
Talking to The Observer, The Guardian’s Sunday paper, as she returns to screens on Fool Me Once, Michelle opened up about leaving Corrie and how people ‘judge her’ due to her soap past.
“It was just such a level of love when you walked into that place,” she told the publication of Coronation Street. “It was the best job, the best people. It was a really hard decision to go. I could have stayed there my whole life.”
She continued: “I feel very protective of it and very proud. It comes with a sense of warmth. I hear the music and I’m home.”
But as she prepared to leave, she became aware that not everybody felt the same way.
“In the industry, there’s a lot of snobbery surrounding soaps,” Michelle said.
“But I feel like it’s the best learning experience, working with three different directors in one day, bouncing between different storylines – one minute I was crying over a death, then I was giving birth – it is such a unique experience.
“But it’s rare that soap gets any recognition. There’s a lot of ‘stuff’ surrounding it, because it’s seen as working-class – people look down on it.”
When she finally decided to quit, Michelle was told that they were going to kill Tina off which she says caused ‘panic’ as it meant she couldn’t go back.
However, Tina had some key words of support. “Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley [Cropper], was leaving around the same time.
And she said, ‘Killing off Tina is the best thing that could have happened to you. Because it’ll make you fight harder and make you work harder and focus you.’ And she was right.”