Just seen Julie in two interviews.....she is Hayley or Hayley is her...so no acting there then she just plays herself. So directors did not have to create Hayley's mannerisms or think them up themselves.
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Just seen Julie in two interviews.....she is Hayley or Hayley is her...so no acting there then she just plays herself. So directors did not have to create Hayley's mannerisms or think them up themselves.
Then maybe she was chosen for her mannerisms because they thought she was fitting the bill
I think most of them are chosen like that. Anyway it's her last day on screen on Monday . I know people are divided about her but I'm sure it will be good on Monday.
It's true, she hasn't even truly stretched to play the role. I've seen her in interviews and she's just as eye rolling, theatrical in person. Just an annoying actress. But hey, there's no accounting for taste.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
At the risk of sounding boring, and I'm not a frequent poster, so many people may not know, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year. Consequently, now, if I hear the word cancer I don't ignore it, whereas previously I'd gloss over it. I've said that only to explain that my views may be biased. On BBC Breakfast News yesterday there was an interview with a pancreatic cancer doctor and one of the Coronation Street producers. They showed a clip from Friday night's episodes, and even the presenters looked moved by it. The doctor said that in reality very few terminally ill patients choose to end their own lives, it's people who are mentally ill who are more likely to commit suicide. I do not watch Eastenders [only financial bribery would make me watch it], so can't comment on how they handling the Breast Cancer story line. I dip in and out of Emmerdale, to me they almost seem to have forgotten that Brenda was diagnosed with cancer. I accept it's difficult for soaps to portray cancer story lines. It's an emotive subject. Until I was diagnosed I had no idea there are 5 grades and stages of breast cancer. The medical definition of my breast cancer takes up 3 lines of text in all my letters from the hospital. All I know is, for wont of a better word, I've enjoyed the story line. If it's raised the profile of pancreatic cancer, that's a good thing in my view.
I had cancer in 2009 and do a lot to support cancer groups and services and raise awareness. I think rather than more of a focus on the cancer I have seen it as more as a right to die story. I can't even remember her having any systems of cancer in the storyline which would have been helpful to raise awareness. She just went along with Roy to get him checked out in the first instance. Seeing the systems would have raised more awareness as not everyone catches early morning shows or day time shows but a lot do I know. I found the Sally breast cancer storyline easier to relate to.
Following my posting above. It is ok to like Hayley or not like Hayley...... everyone has a right to their own opinion.
I meant symptoms not systems of cancer!
Coronation Street broke new ground in 1998 when show bosses introduced Hayley Patterson (now Cropper) as the programme's first transgender character.
16 years on, Hayley has once again become a national talking point as her exit storyline sees the much-loved Weatherfield resident end her own life in a controversial 'right to die' storyline.
In real life, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh is bowing out from the role of Hayley to pursue other acting ambitions.
To celebrate her long history on the cobbles, Julie recently caught up with us and named her favourite Hayley moments.
Hayley and Roy in Amsterdam
When Hayley joined Coronation Street in 1998, the initial plan was for her to be the first in a long line of 'disastrous dates' for mild-mannered Roy.
Once it became clear that the pairing was working on screen, Julie was offered a longer-term contract. Viewers had seen Roy reject Hayley after learning of her past, but he later saw sense and tracked her down in Amsterdam, where she was recovering after completing her gender reassignment surgery.
Julie says: "Amsterdam was a real treat, because that was me coming back into the show after a little break, when they decided they wanted me back. Roy came to find Hayley after her operation and that was lovely because it was the beginning of the new era of us being together. We had such a blast there - it's always great going on location with cast and crew."
Working with David Neilson
Roy and Hayley have become one of the most popular couples in soapland - in part thanks to the close bond that Julie and David Neilson share as friends in real life.
Julie says: "We've been like an old married couple! I love David and if you asked every single person in the cast who they'd most like to work with, they would say him. He's so loved and so respected. I think he's seen universally as the best actor in the show. I've had him for 16 years so it's someone else's turn now - the rest of the cast are all queuing up, trying to be his mate or his girlfriend or whatever! My relationship with him has been the absolute best.
"David is completely different from Roy in real life. Even physically he's completely different. He's very dry and he doesn't suffer fools. Although as the years roll on, he's getting a bit more like Roy, I have to say!"
Changing perceptions
Hayley's character and her relationship with Roy have been credited with helping to change public attitudes towards the LGBT community.
Julie says: "Old ladies in the street would say to me, 'When are Roy and Hayley going to get married?' and I'd say, 'Well, they're not allowed to because of the law'. They'd be like, 'Never mind that!' Suddenly when it's two people you care about, the law becomes absurd. We were even mentioned in Parliament early on for changing attitudes, so I'm really proud of that.
"There was a brilliant scene I often forget about in the Croppers' flat. Hayley was living with Roy, but she was sleeping on the couch. Roy came in and put 'Natural Woman' on and took her to bed. That was the moment when we saw that they were having sex, and that matters. It matters that characters who aren't heterosexual are having sex - you have to show all aspects of their lives."
Roy and Hayley's first wedding
Although Roy and Hayley could not legally marry after falling for each other, they did have a blessing ceremony in 1999. Drama on the big day saw the venue change to Roy's Rolls in a last-minute change after a newspaper threatened to turn Roy and Hayley's story into front page news.
Julie says: "The thing I remember most about the first wedding is that my real-life husband played the baddie journalist in the storyline. We weren't together at that time - we didn't get together until much later, in the week of the 40th anniversary live episode in 2000. In the story, Les Battersby had rung the Weatherfield Gazette to tell them what was going on, so my future husband nearly ruined Hayley's wedding!"
Hayley and Roy foster Fiz
Jennie McAlpine's character Fiz was first brought into Coronation Street in 2001 as a 16-year-old girl who was fostered by Roy and Hayley. Fiz was a tearaway and didn't make life easy for the Croppers, but she was later won over by their good natures and has remained close to them ever since.
Julie says: "It's almost 14 years since Jennie joined the show. The second she walked in, you just knew that she was something special. She was like nobody else. Apparently they auditioned loads of girls and they'd chosen somebody, but then Jennie walked in and they said, 'Well, who else could we have for this role?'
"It was great to see Jennie grow as a person. She's a really, really amazing person - I joke that I want to be her when I grow up! She has a maturity and a calmness about her - she's an old soul, very wise and good fun as well. Jennie also runs a mental health charity with her dad and she's very, very clued into all that - she's incredible."
Hayley's friendship with Becky
Becky Granger's bad girl antics quickly caused a stir when she joined the cobbles in 2006, but Roy and Hayley were among the first to see another side to her, giving her a chance by hiring her at Roy's Rolls. Viewers also warmed to Becky, and Katherine Kelly - who played her - credited the Croppers for the turnaround in public opinion.
Julie says: "I loved all of the Becky storylines. That was a great period for the Croppers. I'm still in touch with Kate in real life, too. She's absolutely gorgeous and she was one of the first people I told when I was thinking of leaving the show. She was incredibly supportive and has been ever since. We're in regular contact."
Roy and Hayley's second wedding
Roy and Hayley tied the knot for the second time in 2010 after a change in the law meant that their union could be legally recognised. The couple's big day ran into trouble when they travelled to the venue by steam train and Mary Taylor uncoupled the rear carriage, leaving Hayley stranded. Fortunately, the day was saved when Fiz and Becky helped Hayley to get to the wedding via pump wagon.
Julie says: "The wedding was beautiful. That was written by Debbie Oates, who's one of my favourite Corrie writers. There was a great line from Roy where he said, 'We have remained the same, but the world has turned to meet us'. They'd been in their little Roy and Hayley world, but the world moved on and the law had changed."
Hayley's friendship with Carla
After the dramatic siege at Underworld in 2010, Hayley struck up a close friendship with factory boss Carla. Carla has constantly been at Hayley's side since she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, brightening up even the darkest days with her no-nonsense attitude.
Julie says: "I've absolutely loved the development of Hayley and Carla's friendship. That's been really special to me, because it's a really unlikely friendship. It's really worked and that started with the siege episodes. I didn't really know Ali King, who plays Carla, at that point - but that's when we became friends in real life. That was a really special time for me.
"Ali is magic and you never know what you're going to get from her. With some actors, you read their lines on the page, you hear their voices and you know exactly how they're going to do it. With Ali, you never know how she's going to do it - she's a complete loose cannon!"
Hayley and Roy in Blackpool
When Hayley learned that her pancreatic cancer was terminal, she vowed to enjoy life to the fullest while she still could. One major wish on her list was to visit Blackpool and dance at the Tower Ballroom with Roy, so Coronation Street once again took the Croppers out on location for more heartwarming scenes.
Julie says: "Out of everything I've done, Blackpool usurps it all. It was a real moment in time for me, because it was like standing still just before a crazy journey to the end.
"I loved being in Blackpool with my friends from the cast and crew. It also had a bit of fairy dust on it, that shoot. We needed a gust of wind so that Roy would lose his schedule for the trip, so a gust of wind came and blew his piece of paper away. Then when it was supposed to be a beautiful and still night, it was. That's my all-time favourite."
Coronation Street airs Hayley's final episodes tonight (January 20) at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
Which is why soap acting tends towards mediocrity in general. With some notable exceptions on EE; Jake Wood, Joy Joyner and Lacey Turner in recent years.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
Which is why soap acting tends towards mediocrity in general. With some notable exceptions on EE; Jake Wood, Joy Joyner and Lacey Turner in recent years.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I am trying to think of really brilliant corrie actors. It's normally the ones who play serial killers that come to mind
I only started watching Corrie 9 years ago, but I understand that from the start Violet Carson (Ena Sharples) was noteworthy, and certainly in terms of believability in their roles I would say John Savident (Fred Elliot), Daivd Neilson (Roy Cropper) Malcolm Hebden (Norris) all work for me. I'm sure there are more someone can offer. I also always thought that Kate Ford has been an effective villianess as Tracy Barlow as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I only started watching Corrie 9 years ago, but I understand that from the start Violet Carson (Ena Sharples) was noteworthy, and certainly in terms of believability in their roles I would say John Savident (Fred Elliot), Daivd Neilson (Roy Cropper) Malcolm Hebden (Norris) all work for me. I'm sure there are more someone can offer. I also always thought that Kate Ford has been an effective villianess as Tracy Barlow as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I agree with all your choices and would add Patti Clare (Mary) but totally disagree with your opinion of Kate Ford ... can't act her way out of a paper bag and is a rubbish villain but that is more due to poor writing, I suppose
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaW
You thought that Julie Hesmondhaulgh was a poor actress!!!!! and go on to say that John Savident was good. He was a panto character at best with his need to repeat everything. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the character but he is not in the same league as Julie. As for Kate Ford, I think Perdita sums her up well. She is a plank. In fact if theres anything in it the plank of wood has it.
..
And I in turn disagree about Patti Clare, hardly a better actress then Kate Ford. Just fed more interesting and comedic lines. Ford is a believable villian and as I was saying, the ones I pointed out were believable in their roles. I wasn't referrring to their overall acting ability per se. She's played the Tracy character consistently to the point where I believe her onscreen selfishness and maniipulative cruetly. When she dispatched Charlie to that big soap opera in the sky (well i doubt he made it up there) it was a brilliant soap murder.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
And I in turn disagree about Patti Clare, hardly a better actress then Kate Ford. Just fed more interesting and comedic lines. Ford is a believable villian and as I was saying, the ones I pointed out were believable in their roles. I wasn't referrring to their overall acting ability per se. She's played the Tracy character consistently to the point where I believe her onscreen selfishness and maniipulative cruetly. When she dispatched Charlie to that big soap opera in the sky (well i doubt he made it up there) it was a brilliant soap murder.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
Reread what i said, you missed the main point. i was pointing out the characters that I found believable. His interpretation of the Fred character worked for me. At least he was playing a character and not himself like Hesmondhaulgh.Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
Reread what i said, you missed the main point. i was pointing out the characters that I found believable. His interpretation of the Fred character worked for me. At least he was playing a character and not himself like Hesmondhaulgh.Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
From the current cast I think the actresses who play Leanne, Deirdre, Mary, Anna, Beth, Kylie, Gail, Sally and Audrey do a decent job in the acting stakes
I didn't realise that Julie was a transexual in real life :hmm:Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaW
No, just a lousy actress. The same OTT mannerisms she exhibits in real life she brought to the character.Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
No, just a lousy actress. The same OTT mannerisms she exhibits in real life she brought to the character.Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
I've just caught up with this. How anyone can think that a) Kate Ford is anything but an appalling actor and b) Tracy Barlow is a convincing villain is beyond me. They are both, in my opinion, hopeless and completely unbelievable.
Not much of a fan of Tracy Barlow character or actress. What area of the north is Hayley meant to come from as it is not a manchester accent.
no need for anna and carla in the end scene should have just been hayley and roy
so long hayley cropper rip
no need for anna and carla in the end scene should have just been hayley and roy
so long hayley cropper rip
He needs them now to help. it was the two of them and that is what mattered at the end moments.
Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine has revealed more details of the fallout from Hayley Cropper's death.
Now that Hayley has ended her life, it's left to her loved ones to deal with the emotional repercussions as they miss out on precious days they could have shared with her.
McAlpine's character Fiz is particularly furious when she learns of the Croppers' recent secrecy, but she later tries to make Roy see sense when he considers skipping Hayley's funeral.
Here, Jennie chats about life after Hayley on Coronation Street.
How does Fiz cope in the aftermath of Hayley's death?
"She's absolutely devastated. Even though they've expected it and they've known for some time that she was going to die, it's a shock to Fiz. The audience knew that Hayley was going to end her life but Fiz didn't. She knew Hayley didn't have long left, but she didn't realise it was going to be that soon."
Does Fiz feel that the end was rather sudden and unexpected?
"Yes she does, as she'd seen Hayley only that day. It's strange - she'd seen her alive that day and then suddenly she isn't there anymore. She's shocked, but once the shock has gone and she's had time to think, she starts to realise that Hayley could have been saying her last goodbyes that day and therefore knew she was going to die that night."
Does Fiz suspect anything suspicious about Hayley's death?
"Fiz walks in and finds Anna and Roy obviously talking about Hayley, but they go quiet and it's obvious they don't want her to hear what they are saying. She thinks this is strange and then throughout the day nothing seems to add up. Fiz thinks it's odd - she thinks the way Roy is behaving is odd, and she thinks there was something odd about the way Hayley was acting in the run-up to her death."
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Fizz overhears Roy and Anna talking about Hayley's passing.
© ITV
Fizz overhears Roy and Anna talking about Hayley
Does Carla's reaction increase these suspicions?
"Fiz tells Carla that she thinks Hayley was saying her goodbyes, but Carla tells her not to think about it. I think Carla knows at that point that Fiz is on to something and because of Carla's cagey reaction, Fiz goes to Roy and asks him. I don't think at that point Fiz thinks Hayley ended her life, but she does think something just doesn't add up."
What are Fiz's feelings when Roy tells her the truth?
"She's really angry. She's quite selfish in the way she reacts and the way she behaves. It's very distressing for Roy because she gets very angry with him and it's very unusual for them to argue. Roy asks her what she would have done differently and she tells him she would have been able to stop her. She really takes it out on Roy but I think she's angry with Hayley at that point."
Is Fiz jealous of Anna and Carla because they knew and she didn't?
"She feels embarrassed that Anna and Carla knew. Fiz feels she was closer to Hayley and therefore should have known, but the situation isn't how Fiz imagines it in her head. Anna found out accidentally and so did Carla. She feels stupid and angry and because Hayley isn't here anymore, Roy gets the backlash. She's grieving."
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Roy tells Fiz the truth about Hayley's death
© ITV
Roy tells Fiz the truth about Hayley's death
Does Fiz disapprove of what Hayley did?
"At the time I think she does. It's such a sensitive issue to tackle and Fiz puts across the other side of the argument. Anna and Carla are very much for Hayley's decision but Fiz doesn't think it was Hayley's decision to make."
Does she later understand why Hayley chose to do this?
"I think Fiz realises that something like that was a choice that only Hayley could make. It was the right thing for Hayley and for that situation."
Will Fiz come to realise that Roy needs her support?
"The promise that she made to Hayley to look after Roy is at the back of Fiz's mind. She will look after him, but close families do fall out and they're not going to agree with everything. Roy is full of regret too, and the last thing he needs is Fiz having a go at him. He didn't want Hayley to go through with it and he starts to feel angry afterwards."
Does Fiz confide in Tyrone?
"She doesn't tell Tyrone until the day of the funeral and it's only because she has to because Roy is thinking of boycotting the service. Tyrone is incredibly understanding and tells her it must have been a really difficult choice for Hayley. He makes Fiz see sense."
What was it like to film the funeral scenes?
"Roy's emotions at that point are really complex. The whole funeral is about Roy pretending that Hayley was all these nice things, when inside Roy is angry with Hayley. He's a very honest and straightforward man and he doesn't think it's just or fair to let everyone grieve for Hayley and not tell them about what she'd done.
"Fiz, Anna and Carla all stay by Roy's side because they are terrified he's going to say something. She thinks he would regret it if he did."
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The community pay it's respects to Hayley.
© ITV
The community pay it's respects to Hayley.
How are things between Tyrone and Fiz now they're living together?
"Tyrone has been a real comfort for Fiz. They have the kids and they are both going to fulfil their promise to Hayley to look after Roy. They'll take him on outings and make sure Roy is involved with the kids. Tyrone has been a real support for her."
How much are you missing working with Julie now she's left?
"We are really missing her. I'm going to go and see her in her new show at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, which I'm really excited about. We will definitely stay in touch."
You're welcome to your opinion which is beyond me also. And again, if you read my original post I wasn't hailing her acting skills or the others I pointed out, I was saying I felt they were effective character interpretations. Hardly any of these soap actors give nuanced or shaded performances due to their limitations and that of the scripts and shooting schedules. However, for me, some of them succeed sufficiently in terms of making their characters entertaining and/or believable.Quote:
Originally Posted by parkerman
Poor Roy I am sure if someone takes a lethal drink they have convulsions or something. Must have been hard.
I felt they made it all look too easy in a way which is not a good message to send. Hopefully the aftermath will help get across the price paid for the survivors of a suicide. Had a famiily member take their own live in dissimilar circumstances with the feeling that it would make things easeir for the famiily without them. It had the opposite effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I felt they made it all look too easy in a way which is not a good message to send. Hopefully the aftermath will help get across the price paid for the survivors of a suicide. Had a famiily member take their own live in dissimilar circumstances with the feeling that it would make things easeir for the famiily without them. It had the opposite effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
Newspapers saying that they thought it was going to be an assisted suicide and feel let down by corrie
They always made it clear that it was to be Hayley's decision and she was going to do it while she was able to do so unaided - although the debate about whether assisted suicide should be made legal or not got brought to the forefront again with this storyline
I think Emmerdale did well previously few years ago when Sam's wife&Samson's mother Alice was diagnosed&died from cancer..it was so moving..I must say even more so than Hayley's.Quote:
Originally Posted by LizzyBizzy
That's stupid. It never was meant to be assisted in that sense- Hayley always wanted to do it herself and not allow Roy to even touch any medicines she was going to use. The only way Roy DID assist her, was that he watched her die and didn't call for help-I suppose one can argue that that was assisting as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I'm totally pro right to die - I think humans have to have the right to end their own life with terminal illness such as cancer, if they so wish. If animal is not put down when it's suffering, it's called cruelty so why to let humans suffer?
That's stupid. It never was meant to be assisted in that sense- Hayley always wanted to do it herself and not allow Roy to even touch any medicines she was going to use. The only way Roy DID assist her, was that he watched her die and didn't call for help-I suppose one can argue that that was assisting as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by swmc66
I'm totally pro right to die - I think humans have to have the right to end their own life with terminal illness such as cancer, if they so wish. If animal is not put down when it's suffering, it's called cruelty so why to let humans suffer?