Rachel Leskovac interview: Natasha's emotional exit

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

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