Claire Sweeney is set to make her eagerly awaited debut on Coronation Street tonight.
The former Brookside star will arrive on the Cobbles as Tyrone Dobbs' mum, Cassie. Claire branded her character as a loose cannon and said Cassie will cause havoc on the show as Evelyn Plummer has lied to Tyrone that his mum is dead.
Cassie is a recovering drug addict and images from tonight's episode have showed off Claire's incredible transformation to play the role. The Walton actor told the ECHO and other press why she has relished the opportunity to play a character world's apart from her usual glamorous self.
READ MORE: Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney 'traumatised' after unrecognisable transformation
She said: "I want her to be so far removed from me and the minute I get the clothes on, the leggings, the converse, the cap and looking really rough, I then become that character."
Away from the screen, Claire is a proud single mum and she explained how the Corrie role has been significant on a personal level as the stability of being on a soap will allow her to spend more time with eight-year-old son, Jackson.
She said: "I'm a single mum and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do but they're based on stability for me and my son. I'm 52 years of age now. Not only is it the best soap, not only is she a wonderful part but having stability for a while just comes at the right time as well.
"Not touring in a musical in a different place every week. I get to have my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely."
Claire is a lifelong Corrie fan and branded the role as Cassie as a "dream come true". Talking about her first day on set, she said: "I felt like an impostor waiting to get escorted out like I've snuck in on one of the tours. I'm such a fan and I'm so grateful for this job playing Cassie."
Corrie fans were equally thrilled when the casting announcement was made as Claire in Corrie seemed like a match made in heaven. However, other fans were in disbelief when they found Claire was aged 52 and heaped praise on her age defying appearance.
Laura posted: "She doesn't look old enough to be Tyrone's mum."
Lisa added: "Claire Sweeney is 52 she doesn't look that old, though."
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