Michelle Keegan ‘proud’ of soap past 10 years after Coronation Street exit

**For six years, Michelle Keegan portrayed Tina McIntyre (Picture: Getty).**

A decade after leaving Coronation Street, Michelle Keegan has expressed her love for soap operas.

The actress, 36, portrayed Tina McIntyre in the ITV serial opera from 2008 till 2014.

Tina, a barmaid at the Rovers Return, was David Platt’s (Jack P Shepherd) first girlfriend. However, they broke up after he encouraged her to lie in order to have Gary Windass (Mike North) fired from his job, as part of their continuing rivalry.

After leaving Corrie, the actress, 36, went on to have a very successful career. She starred in TV miniseries Tina and Bobby as Bobby Moore’s wife Tina Moore, and more recently, she appeared in the BBC One drama Ten Pound Poms and the smash show Brassic on Sky One.

Michelle, who co-stars with Joanna Lumley in the upcoming Netflix series Fool Me Once, thought back on her time in soap operas.

“When you entered that place, there was an overwhelming amount of love,” she said.

**“The best people and the best job” (Image credit: Bruce Adams)**

**Michelle portrayed Georgie Lane for four years shortly after Corrie (Picture: BBC)**

To The Guardian, Michelle said, “It was the best job, the best people.” Choosing to travel was a really difficult choice. I could have lived there forever.

I’m rather proud of it and protective of it. It has a cosy feeling about it. When I hear the music, I feel at home.

In 2014, Michelle departed Coronation Street after Tina’s demise.

After breaking up with Peter, Tina got into a fight with Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis), Carla Connor’s brother, over his questionable activities at Underworld, threatening to alert Carla Connor (Alison King).

She fell to the cobbles from the Builders Yard balcony as a result of the altercation, but Rob hit her with a metal pipe after realising she had survived the fall and was threatening to report him to the police.

After being taken to the hospital immediately, Tina had surgery to treat her wounds and eventually passed away from a heart attack.

Her death set off a series of events that eventually resulted in Rob confessing to the crime, leading to Peter Barlow being wrongfully convicted of her murder.