Michelle Keegan reflected back on the wise counsel. She was sharing on set with Coronation Street great Helen Worth, who has been playing Gail Platt in the TV serial opera for fifty years.
In an honest conversation, Michelle Keegan revealed her admiration for Coronation Street veteran Helen Worth and recalled the advice her former co-star once offered her when she was having panic attacks.
Michelle, a former Coronation Street actress, disclosed that Helen, who has been playing Gail Platt for half a century, helped and advised her when Michelle was first starting out on the show. Michelle specifically mentioned the first time Michelle’s character had to weep.
Michelle, 37, recounted how Helen’s advice on the soap set years ago “took a weight off her shoulders” and prevented her from being anxious about a dramatic impending moment during an interview last week on stage in Manchester.
The Mirror reports that Michelle told a story about her early career as an actor playing barmaid Tina McIntyre and the guidance Helen gave her, saying Helen is a “legend”.
Michelle, who portrayed Tina on the Cobbles in 2008, was the barmaid at the instantly identifiable Rovers Return and had major romantic connections with Peter Barlow, played by Chris Gascoyne, David Platt in Jack P. Shepherd and Tommy Duckworth, played by Chris Fountain.
Her time on the show came to an end in 2014 when Rob Donovan, played by Marc Baylis, the brother of Carla Connor, brutally murdered her in a graphic plot.
However, Michelle’s anxiousness was triggered by one of her early moments as Tina. Fortunately, Helen was available to provide some kind counsel.
Michelle reportedly stated: “[The advice] came] before my first-ever emotional soap opera storyline.” The screenplay stated that I was supposed to cry since the plot was so dark. I had never acted before, especially on TV (Corrie was my first role), and I recall receiving the script and seeing halfway through that Tina started crying.
“I recall how much I had built up my anxiousness at that particular time. I felt like I couldn’t handle it. I’m not able to weep. I’m a terrible actress. This isn’t the work for me. Before Helen drew me away, it had already grown so much in my mind.
She said, ‘Listen, you don’t have to weep, so stop crying if you’re not feeling it at that particular moment. Nothing needs to be proven by you. You act in the way you imagine your character would have in that situation. You don’t have to cry if your character doesn’t want to. That burden I was carrying suddenly vanished.”
Michelle continued by acknowledging that although she had cried at the scene, she had “taken with me all these years” Helen’s advise.
“I’ve got nothing to prove,” she continued. It’s alright. I’m not required to. And through the years, I’ve carried that with me. Just be honest with me about how I’m feeling at that very moment in that situation. Just tell the truth.”
Michelle has landed many major parts since leaving Coronation Street, including that of Georgie Lane in Our Girl, Erin Croft in Brassic, and most recently, Maya Stern in the Netflix adaptation of Fool Me Once, a massive blockbuster novel by Harlan Coben.
She recently created a sportswear firm called Aytee7 with her husband, Heart anchor and former TOWIE star Mark Wright. The couple moved into their ideal house in Essex last year following years of construction.
Michelle’s lovely recollection follows the announcement that ITV soap opera veteran Helen, well known for portraying Gail Platt, has left the show. After 50 years, the actress will be leaving the role of Gail near the end of 2024.
In June, Helen said that she had decided to quit Coronation Street. As she celebrated her 50 years as Gail, the actress said that now was the “perfect time” to walk off the cobbles.
“After celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world, this year felt like the right time to leave the show.” Helen remarked, “I met with the producers at the beginning of the year and made the decision; they were really understanding and nice.
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