JULIE HESMONDHALGH DESCRIBES MOTHERHOOD STRUGGLES

Julie Hesmondhalgh has said she found motherhood “a struggle” and regrets how she sometimes responded to her two daughters. The actress said balancing work and her own life with raising children was difficult at times. “I have a lot of regrets about losing my rag with my kids,” she said. Hesmondhalgh said she sometimes took their behaviour personally and felt as if they were trying to make her life difficult. She added: “They were just children.”

Hesmondhalgh shares her daughters with her husband, writer Ian Kershaw. She played Hayley Cropper on Coronation Street from 1998 until 2014. Hayley was the first trans character in a British soap. Hesmondhalgh also appeared on the recent series of Celebrity Traitors. She said she was “so chuffed” to be asked to take part because she was “obsessed” with the series.

Her fellow faithfuls banished her from the castle early in the series. Hesmondhalgh said she formed friendships during her time on Celebrity Traitors, including with comedian Romesh Ranganathan. She described Ranganathan as one of the “greatest human beings”. Speaking about the contestants’ shared experience, she said: “The extraordinary thing is that you’re all on the same footing.”