Claire Sweeney has jokingly shared what has been the most ‘traumatic’ part of her new job after landing a role on Coronation Street. It was announced back in April that the Brookside legend will make her way onto the cobbles as Cassie Plummer.
In upcoming scenes, viewers of the ITV soap will finally be introduced to Tyrone Dobbs’ real mum. The much-loved mechanic grew up believing that his mum was Jackie Dobbs, played by Margi Clarke.
However, in 2018, during investigations into his own parentage, Tyrone was brought into contact with grandmother Evelyn Plummer, portrayed by Dame Maureen Lipman, for the first time who told him that her daughter, his biological mother is dead.
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Corrie fans have now been given the first look at Claire, famed for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkill in scouse soap Brookside, as Cassie - and it's fair to say she looks completely different with her old, dark clothes and without her big eyelashes and false nails.
And that's something Claire has jokingly said has been a struggle to be without as she had to ditch her usual glam in order to film for the soap at the Salford-based set. "It wasn't much, that's how I wake up in a morning," the star laughed when asked how long it takes to become Cassie and how much she has been involved in the makeup and costume side of her new character.
"I had a flare-up of my skin... I was tired, I was a bit stressed because of one thing and another and Janita who has done my makeup, she is wonderful, she was putting blue on my face and purple and pink and she was kind of following my rosacea then the dark under the eyes. They've done a fantastic my job," Claire told the Manchester Evening News and other press.
"And with my hair, she oiled it down and sprayed black on the roots. Also, I had to get my nails off. Being a scouse and getting my nails and lashes off, that's quite traumatic you know," she added with a laugh. "She's really stripped back and the makeup design team have done such good job making me look as rough as anything and working with what's there with the rosacea and everything."
Asked if she was pleased about the stark contrast between the glamorous Claire we know and love and her cobbles character, Claire added: I'm not vain, I'm an actress and on my first day filming on the cobbles,
Corrie also marks Claire’s return to TV for the first time in four years after appearing in BBC’s Scarborough in 2019 and while it’s been a few years since she’s been seen in a theatre role, the last being in 2015 and 2016 when she played Velma Von-Tussle in the UK tour of Hairspray, appearing in the much-loved, long-running soap is perfect for the 52-year-old right now.
“I’m a single mum to my eight-year-old son, Jaxon, and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do but they’re also based on stability for me and my son,” Claire told us.
“I’m 52-years-old now and this is not only the best soap for me, not only is she a wonderful part and working with Maureen, Alan, and all these wonderful people, there is stability. I don’t know how long it will alst. I never take anything for granted in this business, but just to have that stability for a while as well, it’s just come at the right time and I’m really happy. I’m not touring in a musical in a different place every week and rushing home. I get every weekend with my boy now which is lovely.”
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