There's a lovely interview in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus with Liam Bairstow, who plays Cathy's nephew Alex on Coronation Street. Liam is the first Down’s Syndrome actor in Corrie's history.
Liam says: "Alex is a bit of a romantic person and likes figurines on wedding cakes. He's a cheeky lad who likes to go to the pub and is a smooth talker with the ladies. Roy’s Rolls looks a lot bigger on TV than in real life, the set is really small. When I was in the Rovers I thought one of the walls was real - until it moved."
The 28-year-old has been picking up tips from cast members. "I enjoy working with the other actors, they’re all really nice," he said. "Beverley Callard who plays Liz McDonald and Debbie Rush who plays Anna Windass helped to calm me down on set. If I started to struggle, they helped me with my nerves.
"In a scene in the Rovers the director was teaching me how to pick up a pint glass with my right hand while reading someone’s palm at the same time. It’s great to be around so many professionals."
Liam, of Bradford theatre company Mind the Gap which trains actors with disabilities, landed his Corrie role after taking part in an ITV acting workshop.
"I went last year with about 15 other people, it was called Breaking Through Talent and I met lots of Corrie cast members. We learned how to perform in front of a camera and work with different camera angles. All I knew was that it was a workshop. A few months later me and my mum were called into a meeting at Mind the Gap and I was told I had got the part. I was buzzing! I’ve watched Coronation Street since I was young. My mum is a big fan, I've grown up watching it with her."
Liam is currently in a new stage production, Contained, premiering at Mind the Gap's Manningham studio next month prior to a tour. Contained is on at the Silk Warehouse, Lister Mills, on Friday, October 16 at 1pm and 7.30pm and Saturday, October 17 at 7.30pm.
Liam will be back in Corrie on screen as Alex in October.
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Wednesday 30 September 2015
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2 comments:
I like this character but I wish he wasn't Cathy's nephew. It implies they're all a bit 'different' in her family and that makes me feel uncomfortable. Better if he had been one of the new Connor clan.
Is Alex going to be a regular character or is he just going to be flitting in and out when the storyline requires him to? I surmise that Nessa who will be wooing Ken will be his mum?
I wonder if they will get cast cards as well.
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