It's been almost a decade since Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper died, leaving millions of viewers feeling emotional.
Back in January 2014, Hayley passed away with her dear husband Roy by her side, following her terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The devastating storyline raised debate about the right to die in the UK.
It wasn't the only hard-hitting storyline actress Julia Hesmondhalgh found herself part of during her 16-year stint on the cobbles, the Daily Star reports.
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Hayley also had to deal with rampant transphobia when she outed herself as a transgender woman to her future husband Roy, and since quitting her role on the show in 2014, Julie has become involved in trans activism.
Years since Hayley's death, she's still remembered by her husband Roy, who speaks of her while in hospital. And here's what Julie has been up to since leaving Corrie, including dropping a huge hint about a possible soap return.
Many might not be aware, but Julie actually has a famous husband, and he’s even been involved in Coronation Street. Julie met her now-hubby Ian Kershaw on the ITV set in 1998 when she first joined as Hayley Cropper.
Over the years, Ian has had various small roles on the soap, and was playing Malcolm Bradford at the time. He has also played Duncan Stott and Mick Crompton.
Julie admitted the pair moved in together the following week, telling Notebook magazine: "I moved in with him on the following Wednesday and I was pregnant within six weeks. We went on a road trip across America and I did a pregnancy test on Santa Barbara pier."
The pair now live together in Tameside and share two daughters. Ian is also a scriptwriter, and has continued to produce scripts for Corrie.
The two could work together again at some point, if Julie gets her wish. Last year, she spoke to Inside Soap about how much she misses her character Hayley, and how she had “begged” the director for a spot as an extra.
She said: "I miss Hayley, the comfort of putting those clothes and wig on and becoming her. I went for a visit a couple of years ago, and Alan Halsall [who plays Tyrone Dobbs] was filming a scene in Roy's Rolls.
"We begged the director to let me be an extra in the scene, dressed as myself, and sweep across the café as the shot began, with the back of my head to the camera so my nose didn't give me away!
"We thought it'd be funny if Tyrone did a tiny double take. But the director daren't do it as it was too much of a risk. It would have been an iconic moment!"
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