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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Corrie's original Tracy Barlow actress has had major career change 24 years after exit

It's been more than two decades since Dawn Acton last appeared on Coronation Street, though viewers may still remember her for having played troublemaker Tracy Barlow.

The actor, now 45, played the role from 1988 until 1999. She had been the third actor to portray Tracy and was replaced by current cast member Kate Ford, now 46, in 2002.

Dawn - who had joined the ITV soap aged 11 - was involved in a various storylines during her decade-long stint on the show, including her character receiving a kidney transplant.

Since her departure from the soap in 1999, Dawn has ventured away from acting. She has instead worked within the charity sector and has performed at gigs as a DJ.

Dawn Acton, pictured in 1991, played Tracy Barlow on Coronation Street for more than a decade (Press Association)
Dawn, pictured in 2015, has since ventured away from acting (Manchester Evening News)

Dawn has spoken about her life since working on the show over the years. This included during an interview with Christine Lampard, now 43, on ITV's Lorraine in 2019.

She said: "I've worked for a [local] charity for well over ten years. That's really interesting work." Dawn said that it helps other charities with funding, training and networking.

Further discussing her life, she added: "[And] I've been DJing for probably 15 years [...] I love my music. I love my live gigs". She said "never say never" about returning to acting, saying she had done "the odd bit of am dram" over the years.

She spoke about the ITV show whilst on Lorraine in 2019 (ITV)

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Dawn also discussed her time on Corrie. Talking about her departure, she said: "My son was a baby and priorities change I suppose [...] The acting world is precarious".

She reflected fondly over on the show though. This included discussing former co-stars Bill Roache, now 90, and the late Anne Kirkbride, who played her on-screen parents.

Dawn had worked alongside Bill Roache (left) and the late Anne Kirkbride (right) on Corrie (Granada Television / ITV)

She commented about them: "They just welcomed me so much and helped me with my acting as well. They were really, really sort of supportive of me and my family actually."

Dawn had spoken about Anne - who died in 2015 - during a previous appearance on Lorraine. She described her late co-star as "really professional," "helpful" and "funny".

She had played Tracy from 1988 until 1999 (Press Association)
Dawn has since worked within the charity sector and as a DJ (Manchester Evening News)

It was reported by the Manchester Evening News in 2015 that Dawn lived in Tameside. The outlet said she lived with her son Thomas, now 23, and partner Stephen, now 52.

She had spoken about Corrie a few years earlier. Dawn told the Daily Mail in 2013: "Obviously I do miss working in Corrie but I do find the work I do now [for charity Beanstalk] very rewarding."

Dawn first appeared on Corrie in 1988, as the third actor to play Tracy. Her final scenes on the ITV show aired in 1999, when the character decided to leave Weatherfield.

Tracy returned in 2002, though she had been recast with Kate in the role. It's previously been reported that Dawn had re-auditioned but wasn't chosen to reprise the role.

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*Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV

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