Coronation Street Blog: Millie Gibson interview: Kelly in court for Seb's murder

How has Kelly been coping while she’s been in prison?

In the worst way possible, she’s not really coping at all. She’s a really vulnerable young girl and she’s going through what feels like the most nightmarish fantasy that she just can’t believe she’s living. She feels like she’s got no hope other than Imran and Toyah and she’s fallen into a deep depression.

As the court case begins does Kelly see it as a chance to prove her innocence?

At first she’s optimistic but as the trial goes on she realises that the odds are stacked against her due to her upbringing, against Corey with his dad’s wealth, his full legal team and his privileged background.

How does she feel about coming face to face with Corey again, is she intimidated by him?

She is a bit scared of him but she’s also infuriated to see his smug face, the way he’s telling all these lies to the court and trying to look all innocent.

Does she struggle to contain her emotions as she sits there listening to Corey?

She goes mad at one point which really doesn’t help her chances but it all just gets on top of her and she can’t contain herself.

How does she feel seeing Nina and Abi, does she feel a lot of guilt about what happened that night?

Yes I think when she’s on the stand it’s terrifying for her to relive these memories but then she sees Nina and Abi’s faces, his girlfriend and mum, and she feels so guilty and conflicted about what she should say about that night.

Kelly’s mum comes back, saying she wants to take the stand and help her daughter. Does Kelly want to rekindle that relationship with her mum?

Kelly’s so desperate at this point, she’s hasn’t got anyone, then she can see Corey surrounded by his dad, a team of lawyers, a football club that are all helping defend him. She’s so grateful to Imran and Toyah but they’re not blood so when her mum offers her her help she just jumps at the opportunity to have someone else in her corner.

How does she feel when Sabeen, Corey’s lawyer, suggests she killed Seb to impress Corey. How does Kelly handle all those things being said about her?

She’s so frustrated, she feels like no one will believe her as his lawyers are trying to twist what actually happened that night, and give a motive that just wasn't there. She’s just infuriated.

What are her feelings towards Toyah and Imran, she didn’t live with them for very long but they’re really fighting her corner. Does she see, hopefully, a future with them?

She’s grateful to Imran and Toyah for everything they’ve done for her but at the moment she’s feeling so desperate, they’re trying to push her along and keep her going but in prison she feels like she’s going through this alone.

As the jury goes out to deliberate, how is Kelly feeling?

Her optimism from the start of the week is starting to fade, judging by how the week in court has gone she’s not feeling too positive, but then she knows she’s told the truth so she just hopes the jury can see that.

If Kelly is convicted and sentenced to a long time in prison how do you think she’d cope with that?

I don’t think she could cope, she’s so young that she’d feel like her whole life is over.

How have you found playing out this storyline, what was it like standing in a real courtroom?

It was so cool being on location again, it felt like such a privilege to venture out again, even if it was only Bolton! It was so hot the week we filmed, it was like being in a greenhouse sitting in that box, but it was a really good experience, we all bonded a lot that week. Being in a real courtroom it was easy to find that emotion, you’re in that moment and you feel the seriousness of the room so when you shoot it your emotions just all fall out naturally. It was very easy to find the tears in that courtroom.

Prior to that you filmed the reconstruction scenes, what was it like going back to that place in the storyline and being able to film in closer contact?

It felt amazing to be able to act in that way again, Max and I were in a bubble so we were able to film scenes where he gets right up in Kelly’s face and it was terrifying. It was real, raw acting and I’ve really missed that. It was 4am, we were all a bit sleep deprived but we just went for it so I’m really excited to see the results.

Corey can be quite terrifying, how do you get on with Max in real life?

He is terrifying when the cameras roll but because we get on so well in real life and we both have such a shared appreciation for acting when they say action he just flips a switch. It’s really great to work with someone who’s as passionate about the story as Max but then as soon as they say cut we’re like ‘ooh that was a good scene wasn’t it’ and I’m secretly terrified haha.

Are you looking forward to viewers seeing the flashback episodes and what Kelly did and didn't do that night, maybe understanding her a bit more?

Yeah because I think people think she was much more involved in Seb’s death than she actually was. For people to actually see her vulnerability, her depression over what happened and her heartbreak will be really interesting. Because even though you may not like Kelly when you see that villainous turn on a teenager from Corey you feel for her too in the end.

Do you think her upbringing is partly to blame for this; getting in with a bad crowd, wanting to impress the wrong people?

Yes, I think because her Dad isn’t in the picture anymore, she's got a real need to impress men. That’s how the whole nightmare with Corey started. Trying to act all cocky and like top dog has been a way of coping with her insecurities and now because it’s all come crashing down she feels lost.

How have you found the reaction from the public towards Kelly?

I think since she started showing more vulnerability and her actual true colours, rather than just this cocky teen, then people have started to soften towards her. She’s in a really dark place and people will see it’s not just an act.

What would you like to see for Kelly going forward, whether we see her in prison or back on the street?

I think what excites me to play as an actress is how she deals with this trauma, wherever she may be. She’s been in prison for a long time already now and it will be interesting to see how she reacts now she’s been stripped back. I think we’re going to see almost a post traumatic version of herself, not the cocky girl we used to see. She’s going to be very vulnerable which will be really interesting to play.

Glenda Young

Novelist published by Headline