Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh is celebrating 10 years since her iconic stint on the cobbles.
The 53-year-old is best known for playing Hayley, who first appeared on the soap in 1998 in what was only ever meant to be a short-term storyline.
This was all the more remarkable given that Hayley was the first trans character in a UK soap.
In 2013, the character was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When treatment failed, Hayley decided to end her life on her terms, dying in 2014 in husband Roy Cropper’s (David Neilson) arms.
Marking a decade since her soap stint, the Broadchurch actress shared a grainy picture of her head in her hands alongside David (Roy) on set with flowers in the corner.
She penned: ‘Ten years today. My last day on the cobbles and the most incredible send off ever. It has FLOWN by! X❤️’
Fellow celebrities and fans also weighed in on the celebration including Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T Davies writing: ‘Oh amazing ❤️❤️❤️’
Another added: ‘Loving watching Hayley and Roy in Classic Corrie right now, two of the best ever characters in the Street played so beautifully by you and David Neilson.’
A third agreed: Cutting edge transgender storyline was next level then. You portrayed Hayley with dignity and class, when I see Roy, I still see Hayley.
Reflecting on the progress that has been made since making her debut in Weatherfield, Julie previously said: ‘As a cis-gender person, I wouldn’t be able to play that part now.
‘It’s good that I left when I did because I think it would have been a little out of step of the times for me to be playing that part now.
‘There are so many amazing trans actors who are out there doing it now.’
Julie added: ‘I’m very proud of my tiny little part in the story of trans history and trans rights.’
After her exit from Corrie, Julie has gone on to appear in a variety of different TV shows including BBC One’s The Pact, she also portrayed Trish Winterman in ITV’s Broadchurch and played Heather in series 3 of The A Word, which followed an autistic boy called Joe (Max Vento) as he navigated growing up, going to school and dealing with his parents’ separation.
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