STREET SUCCESS Coronation Street legend wins prestigious Olivier Award 12 years after quitting soap
A CORONATION Street legend beamed as she scooped a prestigious Olivier Award 12 years after quitting the ITV soap.
Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, was recognised at the swanky London event, which saw Liz Hurley and Oti Mabuse lead the stars on the glittering Red Carpet.
Julie is best-known for her groundbreaking role as Corrie’s Hayley Cropper, joining the Cobbles in 1998.
Though her new gong – awarded for Best Supporting Actress – celebrates her theatre role in Punch.
The poignant production, based on a tragic real life story, is hailed “a powerful story about hope, humanity, and the possibility of change”.
It centres on the true story of Nottingham lad Jacob Dunne, and how his impulsive decision to throw a single punch leads to the death of another young man, James Hodgkison.
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He then goes on to meet Julie’s character Joan – the mother of his victim James as part of a restorative justice programme.
After serving his sentence, Jacob opts into a programme to speak with his victims’ loved ones, a move which changes all of their lives.
He went on to study at university and set up a campaign about the dangers of a single punch, working with Joan to spread the message.
Jacob wrote a book about his journey, Right From Wrong, which was then turned into the play, Punch.
For her moment in the Supporting Actress spotlight, Lancashire lass Julie wore a stylish white slit neck top with oversized sleeves, paired with a high-waisted navy skirt.
She finished off her look at the Royal Albert Hall with a pair of gold sandals.
The screen star flashed a huge smile as she posed with her black trophy on the Red Carpet.
One fan was quick to comment on social media: “This is the best photo to ever exist!! Huge congrats Julie”.
A second wrote: “What a legend x’ as a third mused: “Yes Julie!”
One then added: “Brilliant, incredible play too x’
The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
Broadchurch was Julie’s first big lead role since she left Corrie in 2014, after spending fifteen years on the soap.
Her Corrie exit was one of the most talked about soap departure of its time.
First appearing in the soap in 1998, Julie’s character Hayley was the first permanent transgender character in serialised drama.
Hayley Cropper had a number of major story lines in the soap, but none bigger than her exit in January 2014.
In 2013 Julie’s character was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
After seeing a friend from her cancer support group in hospital, Hayley decided that once the cancer spread, she would take her own life.
This caused arguments with husband Roy, however he eventually accepted his wife’s decision.
On January 20, Hayley died in husband Roy’s arms after drinking a lethal cocktail of drugs.
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The episode had 9.7 million viewers, which was the show’s highest figure in almost a year.
