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The demise of Mrs Cropper will no doubt provide the opportunity for a little moist-eyed remembrance though. Not perhaps in the Princess Diana hysteria mode. Visions of Elton John banging out some mawkish ballad in the Rovers, accompanied by Liz and Michelle's snorts of derision, are unlikely. A weeping Fiz laying a bouquet outside Underworld to the People's Panty Stitcher is a scene we will not see. Yet Britain's telly viewers will grieve for Hayley. Shed a tear, brave Albion.
As followers of continuing drama, this is probably not such a surprising reaction. We invest time in following the fictional stories drifting past our eyes and therefore the characters therein. Hayley more than most has struck a chord with viewers and yet at the very beginning, the whole idea of a transgender resident of Coronation Street seemed bizarre. Well, that's how Hayley had been trail-blazed in many of the UK newspapers. Coming as it did in the Brian Park era, the Hayley storyline had everyone thinking that it would unfold as some hilarious 'man in a frock' pastiche. Things didn't quite unfold that way.
Rather than a badly drawn caricature, Hayley was presented as someone who could be sympathised with. The decision to initially pair her up with Alma Baldwin was genius. A caring character loved by many was seen as championing a misunderstood young woman. Alma extended Hayley's social circle and helped defend her against the unpleasantness dished out by the likes of Les Battersby and initially, Mike Baldwin. By portraying these men as boorish and ill-informed, we sided with Hayley and cheered every small victory she chalked up.
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Perhaps more importantly, the scriptwriters, storyliners and Julie herself, with the help of trans members of the LGBT community, helped to redefine the public perception of what it meant to be a transsexual. It wasn't a subject for titillation or light relief. Through Hayley's eyes, viewers were able to gain some understanding of the prejudice and ignorance faced by the trans community. Any fears that Hayley would be portrayed unsympathetically soon disappeared. The battle goes on but there is no denying that Hayley Patterson Cropper's existence on a soap opera street has enriched the debate. Saint Hayley of Weatherfield? Probably not but for so many reasons, she is a creation to be celebrated. Here's to you, Hayley Cropper!See also: Exclusive! Celebrity Corrie Blogger - Julie Hesmondhalgh
See also: Hayley Ann Cropper - This is Your Life
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If Hayley had been a saint, we wouldn't have liked her nearly as much. But I certainly would like to have a friend like her.
ReplyDeleteHayley was a lovely person but was overly-anxious to please, and eager to fit in. That's not a saint, that's someone with very low self-esteem who doesn't dare to speak their mind. As her health deteriorates, she should settle a few scores. Hayley was a very interesting character who hardly got any screen time. What a shame the actor had to hand in her notice before tptb gave the character a decent storyline, wonderfully delivered.
ReplyDeleteShe's very much like Emily, but Emily has been known to show her temper and speak her mind on many occasions.
ReplyDeleteOf course this is all just tearing me to bits.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Clinkers...
>something in my eye<
Before thinking about Hayley, consider who I think is her opposite, Michelle. When she arrived, she was a singer & single mom, sister to Paul & Liam. Her brothers died, her kid grew up and left, what is she now? Her relationship exists only because we're told it's there; there is no visible bond with Steve save fear and loathing. She has no friends, no interests, and if she still sings, we don't hear it. I think she's the most one dimensional character on the show right now.
ReplyDeleteFor me, what makes Hayley shine isn't that she's transgendered. Its that she transcended being transgendered to become a fully realized character. TG was all she showed up with, but look at all the layers that have evolved. There are so many ways to enjoy Hayley, her dowdy clothes and funny walk, her love of salsa dancing, her ability to befriend all sorts,... All of that would be enough but then you add a quirky balanced relationship with Roy. There is no question that they are two who are one. I'm not a member of the LGBT community but if I were, I would love that at least some of 'my' characters, Hayley and Marcus, are who they are but that is only one aspect of the interesting, likable characters they became.
Brilliant post!
ReplyDeleteFunny and thoughtful, David, really good article. Yes, we watch for entertainment-sake, but you're so right that Corrie "helped to redefine the public perception of what it meant to be a transsexual". I think if drama and entertainment shows do a good job of showing racism and prejudiced attitudes in a redefined perception, it's good entertainment value. I see similarities in Inspector George Gently -- tho a man of his time, he also shows respect even though he doesn't necessarily understand or embrace people's behaviour.
ReplyDeleteI think another aspect of Haley which is very important is that she was a "mother" to those who were on the outside looking in - ie. Fizz and Becky. Even when she recognized that their behavior was less than desirable, her love and care for them didn't diminish.
ReplyDeleteHaley just had a great capacity for love.
Bev
I wonder though, had they gone the route of a male actor playing this part in transition, would Hayley have been as accepted and beloved all these years? Was it easier for the viewers to accept and cherish her eventually because they knew it was a woman playing the part?
ReplyDeleteJust food for thought.
This character illustrates to me the power of a good actor. Hayley was brought in as a joke but the actor outshone the script and the plot so much they had to write her differently. I am always amazed at how much free pass fans give to actors when the characters do not work. We think it is polite to blame the writers alone and say the actor was good but the script let him/her down. Next time please think of Julie H.
ReplyDeleteActually, "Anonymous"... she was only a "joke" at an early storyline level. By the time her initial few weeks had been plotted and written, the story team had decided to write her sympathetically instead. That, coupled with Julie H's fantastic, warm performance, was irresistible to the viewers, so she was brought back, and her relationship with Roy properly developed. The rest is history.
ReplyDeleteThey tried to do the cross dressing thing with Marc/Marcia and it ended badly. What was supposed to be a serious storyline turned out to be hilarious. Haley and Roy had very little screen time as it was. I remember Julie H taking off for a few months a couple of years back, to do some stage work and her character was barely noticed as missing from what I remember. After she's gone, I don't think she'll be that badly missed. Sorry but that just IMO.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't even look or sound like a transexual so she doesn't give the public a true perception of one. How can she be a saint when she lied and cheated to her so called husband and was going to leave him for another man.
ReplyDeleteNow THIS is exactly why I don't want Hayley to kill herself at the end. She's not perfect but she's arguably a legend, and has done a lot for the 'T' section of the LGBT community through her first storyline.
ReplyDeleteI feel by having Hayley kill herself, the writers have gone too far. If this was legal, fine, but her last act is her breaking the law as things stand and I'm sorry but I'm just not comfortable with that. Explore the issue by all means, but you've gotta know when to stop.
"She doesn't look or sound like a transsexual" ?
ReplyDeleteThat kind of ignorance is still in evidence, I see. You've probably met several and not known it. Not all trans women are 6' truckers with hands like shovels and a voice like Les Dawson.