Page 22 - Woman's Weekly - New Zealand (January 2020)

And I replied, ‘No, I’m just fat.‘
the Street − Kym Marsh
(43), Lucy Fallon (24) and
Beverley Callard (62) are just a
few others who have also quit
− amid rumours of major unrest
and low morale, mainly due to
increased working hours since
new producer Iain MacLeod
arrived in 2018.
“It’s a coincidence,” Katie
insists. “My storyline was written
so far in advance so it’s been
more sporadic rather than
everyone suddenly deciding
[to leave] all at once.
“People want to try other
opportunities, it’s not that
they’re fed up of working
there. It’s actually a really
lovely place to work.
“The Street always goes on,
no matter what. Coro has
nothing to worry about.”
The recent move to six
episodes a week in the UK (with
reports this could soon increase
to seven) has undoubtedly
placed more pressure on the
cast and crew, and the jury is
definitely still out as far as
the viewers are concerned
regarding whether it’s overkill.
Would Katie have preferred it
22 New Zealand Woman’s Weekly
back at a more manageable
three or four episodes a week?
“Probably, yes. I wouldn’t go
as far as to say it’s a chore for
the audience, but it is a big
commitment. And upping it
makes everyone have to work
even harder to get the episodes
out, as well as people at home
working harder to keep up.
“But I guess that’s the way
the media is going now. With
Netflix and dramas, you can
watch a box set in a week.
Coro is trying to chase that
and I don’t blame them.”
Rochdale-born Katie is the
youngest of five siblings and
first started drama classes at
the age of seven in a bid to
combat chronic shyness.
“My mum wanted to help
me overcome that and make
some friends. I joined Carol
Godby’s [theatre school in
Bury] and that was it.”
She got her first job at 16 on
Jimmy McGovern’s Moving
On and then won the part of
the troubled Jodie ‘Scout’ Allen
on Waterloo Road, where she
stayed until Coronation Street
came calling in 2013.
Clockwise rom le t: Katie’s
first big role was as Scout on
Waterloo Road; Katie’s mum
Ruth helped her to overcome
shyness with acting classes;
and she joined Coro in 2013.
“I did my A levels while I was
filming Waterloo Road, and it
was just a case of doing the
exam then getting into a cab
to go and film.
“My parents have always
supported me,” she continues.
“They knew I was passionate
and that I had a fire in my belly
for this career. It was about
helping me get there.”
Katie admits she was an
awkward, self-conscious teen
but has grown much more
comfortable in her skin with age.
She tries not to let social media
trolling get to her, preferring to
deflect it with humour.
“Someone posted on one of
my pictures, ‘Are you pregnant?’
That’s how I deal with it, I flip
it. There will always be bitter
people who want to ruin other
people’s lives.
“Me 10 years ago was a
completely different person.
Becoming a young woman in
today’s society is hard. I’d love
to tell that girl to stop worrying
about what other people
thought, stop comparing
yourself. It’s about having
confidence and faith in yourself.”
That said, she’s currently
working with Ultimate
Performance in Manchester,
after gaining about 6kg during
the filming of Sinead’s final
months. “I wanted them to
crack the whip with the nutrition
side of things,” Katie tells.
“I just didn’t feel like myself
and I wanted to get back to
me... It’s about finding balance
without getting obsessed.
“I think everyone feels a
certain pressure with social
media. We all see those edited
and gym-honed bodies. Yes, I’m
in the spotlight, but I think any
young woman is under that
same pressure today.”
Katie’s been single since
splitting with boyfriend Benji
Roberts at the start of the year
Katie’s split from Benji (below)
was done quietly. Since
Sinead’s storyline, she’s kept
herself busy with assistance
from the team at Ultimate
Performance, who are helping
her get back in shape.