Coronation Street newcomer Stephanie Davis has confessed she "cried" after landing the role of Courtney Vance on the ITV soap.
The former Hollyoaks actress revealed her tears over the new role, as she discussed her break from TV over the past few years. Steph's character will be caught up in new scenes with fellow newcomer Darren, and existing characters Dev and Aadi Alahan.
But the actress revealed it was "fate" that she landed her dream role, which she says was written for her. Revealing the "crazy" coincidences about her landing a role on a show she'd dreamed of working on, Stephanie confessed she was left in tears when she bagged the role.
Speaking to The Mirror and other press, she explained: "It was fate, it's crazy. I took time out to be a mum to my little boy Caben. I told my partner that I needed to get back to work and do what I love again, I said I was gonna get a new agent, have a fresh start.
"So I applied for a new agent and on that day I went to meet her. She said what do you wanna do, and I said I wanna do Corrie. I went home. It must have been two days later, my cousin was [talking] to me and I said I had this gut feeling, I wanna do Coronation Street.
"As she was speaking the phone started ringing. It was my agent. I answered it and she said, 'you're never gonna believe this. A part has just come up for Corrie and it's been written for you'.
"You know when you have this feeling it's too good to be true? This was my first audition back after three years, so I was like right, send me over the part. As soon as I read the brief for the character I was like this is mine.
"So I did the audition and went through a wave of emotions… I do believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason. It was everything I wanted. The phone rang and [my agent is] like you got it.
"I started crying. I just couldn't believe how quickly it all happened. I was so, so grateful. As a kid I grew up with Corrie on and I just felt like everything happened for a reason. I felt so grateful and blessed."
Stephanie also teased what fans can expect from the new character, as she shared her hopes to stick around on the ITV soap.
She explained: "There's definitely loads of layers there. I can tell by how she is, she references her mum in some scenes. Only little references but you can tell she's not had a great life.
"She's met Darren, he has loads of money and she has probably settled for that for a good lifestyle, but there is no love there. Courtney in nutshell is longing to be loved."
She added: "I would love to see her stick around. There are so many different layers to explore there with her and she certainly makes herself at home straight away, so I would love to see her stick around."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITV X.
