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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Amy Denman

Sarah Lancashire's humble life away from Happy Valley – two Corrie roles and TV husband

Happy Valley's latest and final series has taken fans on an emotional rollercoaster – with many delighted over its return after years off air.

However, some fans have been left concerned after a seemingly 'throwaway' scene hinted that the starring character could be set to meet her end.

Sarah Lancashire stars in the BBC drama as police community officer for the West Yorkshire Police Department Catherine Cawood and has be discussing her retirement in recent scenes.

The show is proving hugely popular amongst fans who tune in each Sunday night to get their fix of the addictive drama series.

But, what do we know about the show's lead actress? Here, we take a look at Sarah's life outside the show.

Sarah's links to TV before fame

Sarah' father Geoffrey Lancashire, who died in 2004, was a TV script writer.

During his career, he wrote 171 episodes for ITV soap Coronation Street and penned other TV series including Inheritance, Shabby Tiger and The Cuckoo Waltz.

Sarah Lancashire stars as Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)

Meanwhile, Sarah's mum Hilda worked as his personal assistant.

And Sarah undertook the role of a drama teacher at the University of Salford, which she did alongside her own acting work.

Sarah's TWO Coronation Street roles

Before her time on the small screen, Sarah was performed in the theatre.

She marked "the start of her career as an actor" when she took part in two plays with the Manchester Library Theatre Company.

Then, by 1987 she made a brief appearance in Coronation Street as Wendy Farmer, a nurse and prospective lodger for the Duckworths.

Before Sarah's role as Raquel Wolstenhulme she featured briefly in Corrie as Wendy Farmer (Rex)

She then made a return to the soap in January 1991 as Raquel Wolstenhulme.

The dizzy shop worker role at Weatherfield's Bettabuy supermarket was only intended to last a few weeks but her talents in the soap cemented her as a favourite with viewers in the 1990s.

Sarah's role as Raquel saw her catapult to fame.

Sarah's mental health

Despite her huge career success, Sarah was struggling with her mental health – but feared she's lose work if she shares her difficulties.

Recalling her breakdown while playing Raquel on Corrie, she told The Scotsman in 2004: "In my early days, depression did inhibit me because I was too debilitated and terrified to tell anyone why I couldn’t get on a train from Manchester for auditions in London.

Sarah struggled with her mental health but didn't tell Corrie bosses (Granada Television)
Sarah's character was a fan favourite (ITV)

"I fully believed I’d lose work if I admitted to it. Tranquillisers were the worst thing for it and I ended up in a terrible mess. My twenties were a write-off."

She added: "It’s a cruel illness because you can’t see it and you can hide it so well. At least, I can. I’m a genius at hiding it. I think a lot of people are. Actors are b****y marvellous at hiding...

"My family knew, but I didn’t tell anyone at Coronation Street and I didn’t take any time off. I just battled along, which was the worst thing I could have done. Every day I was hysterical at the thought of getting out of bed, but I made myself do it."

The actress then sought help after her mother encouraged her to see a doctor and credits getting help to getting "her life back".

Sarah's love life and TV boss husband

Actress Sarah has been married twice. Her first marriage was to husband Gary Hargreaves, whom she wed when she was 22.

However, she previously admitted in an interview with The Telegraph she only married so she wouldn't have a child out of wedlock.

"I got married only because I was pregnant," Sarah explained. "Simple as that. I am a very traditional girl and was horrified at the thought of having a child out of wedlock.

The Happy Valley actress has been married twice (BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall)

"I didn't want a child of mine to be different or have fingers pointed at."

Sarah and Gary were married for a decade, but the pair split in 1995.

She said: "My marriage lasted for 10 years, which was 10 years longer than it should have done. It was tough."

The actress shares sons Thomas and Matthew with her first husband.

Sarah Lancashire and Peter Salmon wed in 2001 (PA)

In August 2001, Sarah married TV executive Peter Salmon, in a low-key ceremony at Langar Hall in Nottinghamshire.

The couple share son Joseph together.

Sarah is also a step mum to Peter's three sons from his previous marriage to Penny Watt.

Peter is the former Director of BBC Studios and is now the Chief Creative Officer at Endemol Shine Group, which producers 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Benidorm, Big Brother and more.

Sarah's 40 year-long friendship with Happy Valley co-star Siobhan Finneran

Sarah and Siobhan have been praised for their incredible on-screen chemistry in Happy Valley.

However, their natural bond on the show will more than likely be down to their four decade-long friendship.

Happy Valley stars Sarah and Siobhan an incredible on-screen chemistry (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)

Siobhan, 56, previously discussed her friendship with Sarah as she told The Guardian: "God, decades. We first met when I was 17.

"She’s a couple of years older and was doing this brilliant theatre studies course at Oldham College, which I’d applied to.

"Sarah and some other students performed at the open day.

"We met then and eventually did a play together. We’ve both got a slightly warped sense of humour and we both like a cake.

"It’s always a joy to work with another actress who actually eats cake."

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