Fans of BBC’s hit show Happy Valley have discovered an ‘incredible’ throwback of actress Sarah Lancashire as she made her big break in the 1990s.
Happy Valley stars the former Coronation Street star as Catherine Cawood, a Police Sergeant in West Yorkshire who has to juggle family life with the latest cases in the Hebden Bridge and Halifax area.
Her portrayal of the ‘complicated’ and tough-as-nails officer since 2014 has been praised by critics and viewers, receiving both a BAFTA for Best Leading Actress and a National Television Award for Best Drama Performance in 2017.
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With the show returning for its third and final season this month, fans have once again been praising the Oldham-born actress and remembering their favourite moments throughout her career.
Matt Hemley, the deputy editor of theatre industry publication The Stage, recently tweeted a photo of Lancashire in a programme for a production of Blood Brothers in London’s West End.
In fact, the 1990 production at the Albery Theatre marked Lancashire’s West End debut as she played the role of Linda alongside actor Steve Palfreman.
The programme recalled how Lancashire trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and began her professional career at the Wythenshawe Forum Theatre in a production of Steven Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures.
It also highlighted how Lancashire was nominated for the M.E.N’s Best Supporting Performance award for her role in The Beauty Game at the same theatre in the late 80s.
The programme also listed her one-episode 1987 role as Nurse Wendy Farmer in Coronation Street, the long-running soap she would coincidentally later join between 1991 and 1996 playing Raquel Watts.
Commenting on the theatre throwback, fans took to social media to note how it was an ‘incredible’ find. One fan, who saw Lancashire in the 1990 production, wrote: “I remember her in this, she was fabulous even then.”
Another said: “I went to see this production. Pacific Overtures was fantastic! Didn’t realise she was in it. Mum & I used to go here regularly to watch productions. Was very cheap to go & some amazing shows. I remember James Gaddas in Guys & Dolls here. Reg theatre.”
While another posted: “She was an amazing Linda. Had a lovely chat with her afterwards. Who knew what was to come?!”
Meanwhile, actress Vivien Parry, who is currently starring in the West End’s revival of Cabaret, responded: “My west end debut too. With her. What a great actress.”
Since then, Lancashire has also starred in Where the Heart Is, Clocking Off, Wuthering Heights, Lark Rise to Candleford and the 2016 Dad's Army film.
Have a go at our quiz below or via this link to see which Happy Valley character you are:
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