Last week, unlucky Natasha found herself in Harvey’s firing line after he mistook her for Leanne. Tonight, after a heart-breaking goodbye to Sam, Natasha died from her injuries. Rachel Leskovac tells us about filming these emotional episodes and reflecting on her time at Coronation Street.
Since Natasha’s return, Rachel has formed a close bond with her onscreen son Jude Riordan, and she said she found it emotional filming their goodbye. “I’d done a bit of filming with Ben Price (Nick) before Jude came onto set and I was already feeling quite emotional. From the moment I saw Jude, I just started crying and I didn’t stop until they said cut.
“It was really emotional to the point I couldn’t look at him in between takes because I just found it too difficult; it was pretty much non-stop crying. I’m a very emotional person- or some might say a right softie! The bond I have with Jude (Sam) is very strong and I hope that comes across on screen.”
To commemorate their last day filming together, Rachel and Jude had bought each other gifts to lift each other’s spirits. “We ended up cheering each other up in the car park after we’d finished,” Rachel said. “He’s got a really special place in my heart, from the first time I Facetimed him before I met him on set, I just knew that we would get on really well and it’s been an absolute joy to film with him. I’m going to really miss working with him, but we’ve said hopefully at some point in the future we’ll get to work together again.”
As Natasha headed into surgery, she made sure to say goodbye to Sam, and Rachel says that Natasha was aware her time might be up. “Natasha doesn’t want to be so direct with Sam being so young.
“There is an element of her wanting to protect Sam but certainly it felt like she knew it was unlikely that she’d be seeing him again so that was another reason why that scene was particularly tough to play.”
Having lost Natasha, it is now up to Nick to care for his grieving son- but can he rise to the challenge? “She doesn’t really say much to Nick but there’s a moment where she looks at him and she just says his name, hopefully in that moment what will come across is that feeling of knowing.
“The way she looks at him and his response is basically letting her know that he’s going to be alright. I think she does trust that he will be a good dad to Sam despite what they’ve been through. I don’t think she’s ever doubted his love for him but perhaps sometimes his priorities. But sometimes it takes something really big to happen for people to step up and she doesn’t doubt that he will.”
Last year, Natasha returned to the cobbles after 10 years away. While circumstances were different for Natasha, Rachel says she felt like she had never been away. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be back. I feel really honoured to be a part of Coronation Street and although this time it’s been in the new building that felt like the only new element about it because there are so many of the old crew still there.
“I was absolutely welcomed with open arms; people often talk about a sense of family on soaps, and it does sound pretty corny but it is true. You’re in this bubble together, it’s very intense but despite it being 10 years ago it very quickly felt like I’d never left. It definitely has that sense of family, and I was really lucky to be working with Ben and Jane who are both really generous actors and were really excited to bring in this whole new dynamic to their storyline and explore the possibilities.”
Joining a show is challenging enough, but Rachel had to return amidst the Covid pandemic with heavy restrictions to filming. “It’s been bittersweet, I’m hugely grateful to have worked during this period of time unlike a lot of my peers but on the other hand it does feel like there was so much more we could have explored with the character had times being different and Covid not so restrictive.
“I think that’s what I’ll miss the most, having that opportunity to watch her branch out and form relationships with different characters on the street. On the positive side of going in during a pandemic because the crews were stripped back it felt quite intimate which is always nice. There was more opportunity to do two handers and I like the intimacy of that.”
As we say goodbye to Natasha Blakeman, what does Rachel have planned for the future? “Part of the joy of being an actor is the prospect of new work, new beginnings, having the opportunity to challenge yourself creatively over and over again, whether that’s on stage or screen we shall see but I’m very much looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.”
Sophie Williams
I'm on Twitter @sophie_writer1
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
17 comments:
Heartbreaking but expected. Nick had to get custody of Sam who now joins the long line of Corrie kids with a dead parent ��. Pity, as Natasha has been a breath of fresh air.
will the kid now have to lose half his IQ to survive?
Do you think that was the plan all along? They regretted having Steve as the dad for Oliver but now Nick and Leanne can be a proper family unit. They all have been through a lot over the year.
I'm sad to see Rachel go. She was a good, strong actress. I'd have liked Natasha to have had a love interest and take over Audrey's.
I sure didn't see that one coming, (aside from her looking forward to the future), but it also seems rather convenient for Nick and Leanne.
I don't feel it's convenient for a child to lose his mum.
I did feel there was a lot to come from Natasha, especially if she'd have bought Audrey's, but not to be now
Jeanie (anon): Really disappointed. As people have pointed out Natasha was a welcome addition, a breath of fresh air. She worked well with the Platt family too, particularly Gail and Audrey. Seems really unfair on both the actress and the character--who, justly, as it turned out, feared the criminal lifestyle of Leanne and the high death rate of Coronation Street (particularly for attractive women). What is it with Corrie and success, particularly successful women? Natasha came in, attractive, articulate, upbeat, successful business owner, great mom. And then the character gets killed off in such a cursory, random way and her beautiful child is delivered over for the sour, rough, criminal, bitter, failed Leanne to raise as her own--the woman, really, responsible for Natasha's death. Just wonderful. Particularly disheartening to see poor Natasha treated as little more than a baby machine. Once that's done, she's thrown out with the trash. If I were the producers, I would have chucked the Battersby, not Natasha.
Meanwhile there could have been some great stories with Natasha on the street. Not everyone there needs to be a miserable, grumpy-faced failure. And now, of course, poor Sam is doomed to go from being a precocious and sweet-natured genius to a demon teen in about 3 or 4 years, as the malign influence of Coronation St. takes hold!
I'm also disappointed that Natasha is going especially since there is so many deadwood characters who could have gone in her place and since the actress expressed an interest to stay.
I thought it was crass to introduce Sam during Oliver's storyline but I think it's even more crass for Natasha to be killed off just so Nick could have custody of his son,the same Nick who once forced Leanne to have an abortion and dumped Natasha when she was pregnant before Sam.
I am also not looking forward to the possibility of Gail blaming Leanne for Natasha being killed by Harvey.
Why in the world are they hanging on to stale ol' Nick and Leanne? And what a shame they threw away Rachel Leskovac.
It's just been announced that the drama 'Happy valley' will return next year, and Rachel has a noticeable part in that, so maybe she's needed there?
The show is so depressing now. Are they going to throw in more cheap laugh side stories to look lighten the mood? Maria running for city council? Really? Peanut would be a better candidate. Poor Sam, being brought up by the Pratt's and a Battersby.
What a shame! Articulate, attractive and responsible character killed off. I agree with the majority of comments from bloggers. Stick with jaded, boring and selfish characterisations, Corrie. Pleasant and intelligent people can't remain on the street.
Jake Riordan is currently playing Sam in Corrie and filming Brassic 4 as Tyler. Why couldn't they have let Rachel do this as well?
Jeanie (anon): The actress and her character treated as disposable. Yes, it is just a TV. show but people shouldn't be presented that way. Natasha brought back purely to provide Leanne and Nick with a child, then cruelly killed off so her precious child could be passed on--like a possession--to two people who are little more than strangers to him. And the actress binned as well, even though she made it clear she would have loved to stay. Why does the show prioritize long term characters and actresses even when they are getting so dull and self-engrossed? Sorry Leanne, I don't give a flying ---- about your angst-ridden concerns about being a mum to Sam. The kid's mother just died, murdered because your boyfriend asked you to dress up like her. It's not all about you and your problems! It was quite astonishing how in tonight/Wed.'s episodes Natasha was not even mentioned by name. It was all about Nick and Leanne.
I couldn't have expressed your views better, Jeanie. Thank you! Natasha was a breath of fresh air. I am shocked, but why? Corrie has long hung on to tired characters with habitual responses. Leanne is so tiresome and Nick is, apart from Oliver's illness and death, a boring character. The Platts are a dysfunctional family. David and Gail are a joke. I could go on.
A prediction for a future storyline. Natasha owned several salons, and being a sensible mother, also likely had life insurance. Sam stands to inherit, no doubt in trust until he's older. Nick (who stole from his own grandmother) will undoubtedly be the trustee ...
Very disappointed by this .Natasha was a great character,what is with this tv show constantly killing characters off? This show has gotten quite boring and unimangitive.Don’t care to watch it like I used to.
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