My Harrowing New Role

Julie Hesmondhalgh on hoping to change people’s perception of rape victims in Broadchurch, and why life after Coronation Street couldn’t be better…

- Victoria Wilson

Having become a household name playing Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper, Julie Hesmondhalgh made the bold decision to quit the ITV soap in 2014.

As her character tragically took her own life supported by devoted husband Roy, after battling terminal pancreatic cancer, Julie knew there was no way back to the place she’d called home for 16 years.

‘I was so happy on Corrie that I honestly thought they’d have to carry me out in a box,’ jokes Julie, 46. ‘It wasn’t complacency; it was contentment.

‘But I’d lost all ambition and any thought of doing anything else. Then I took some time off to do a stage play and I could feel the monster inside me was waking up! Then, once I’d decided to leave, I knew it was the right thing to do.’

We’d certainly say so. Roles in C4 drama Cucumber, Jimmy McGovern’s acclaimed BBC1 drama Moving On and series two of gritty BBC1 crime drama Happy Valley soon followed.

And now Julie’s playing Trish Winterman, the victim of a serious sexual assault, in ITV hit Broad church, which returned to our screens for a third series last week.

‘I think casting me, a middle aged woman, who’s not your standard TV “rape victim”, shows it can happen to anyone,’ says Julie. ‘It’s important for viewers to see ordinary women, like themselves, on telly.’

Here, Julie tells TV Times more about handling this tough new role, and how she tried to avoid getting star struck on set…

The first episode was very harrowing for your character. Can you describe what Trish is going through?