Fresh off the back of scouser stage star Claire Sweeney joining the Cobbles, comes another scouse singing stage star as actress Stephanie Davis joins Coronation Street later this month playing Courtney. Courtney is a character who hits our screens on July 19th as the wife of Dev’s business associate Darren, who ensnares (a much younger) Aadi Alahan into an extra-marital affair!
Already on my 3rd Corrie press day of the year (spoilt by spoilers!) I fired up my laptop and joined a Zoom session for this year's sauciest plotline yet! I’ve got a few of these cast interviews to come this month, with a few shockers in store, but as a former viewer of ‘Over The Rainbow’ (don't judge!) I was very pleased to learn more about Stephanie Davis’s debut!
Hi Stephanie! How does it feel to be joining Coronation Street?
It’s a dream come true! I’m loving it - everyone has been so welcoming! I've enjoyed working with Jimmi (Dev) who is such a special person, and Elle (Mulvaney, Amy Barlow), and Adam (Aadi Alahan) have been amazing. Helen (Worth - Gail) has been the ''Mother Hen'' settling me in, and seeing Jodie Prenger again. I did Over the Rainbow and she did I’d Do Anything (musical/reality TV shows) so she was made up about me joining, and we were reminiscing. It's an amazing place to work!
You've worked in soap before (Hollyoaks) so you're sure of the pace, and this character hits the ground running as soon as she arrives!
Yes, my first scene and the first day was in the Rovers. I couldn't wait to be back on set and hear ACTION! I could have cried, I was so happy, everything is filmed so fast, multi-camera, it's done much quicker. It's like being back at home! Growing up watching Coronation Street, I feel grateful and blessed.
Stephanie Davis on the set of Coronation Street
Tell us a bit about Courtney then. She's a bit of a minx, isn't she?
She’s a bit of an onion - there’s a lot of layers to her. I think she’s very sassy and has a load of confidence but deep down there are loads of layers there. She’s referenced her mum in some of the scenes, only little ones, but you can tell she’s not had a great life. She’s met Darren, who’s got a lot of money and settled for a good lifestyle, but it's a loveless marriage. Courtney in a nutshell is that she longs to be loved.
 |
| Courtney and Darren |
So what is that draws her to Aadi? The affair seems to happen very quickly.
She's instantly attracted to him - a lot of it stems from her relationship with Darren. He has cheated on her multiple times, which has affected her self-worth, but a lot of it is to get one back on her husband. She wants someone to love her and he shows that to her.
Courtney leans in for the first kiss, certain of reciprocation. Is she a character that’s used to getting what she wants?
Definitely. She’s always got Darren’s credit cards in her handbag and is very spoiled. What she wants - she gets - but it's all a big bravado. She's just a little girl.
Courtney is a bit older than Aadi! - Does the age difference bother her at all?
No, definitely not. I think it's because she notices that he’s interested in her and she goes for it. At first, it's a bit of fun, for the thrill and attention, and it makes her feel good. She hasn't felt that for a long time with Darren. It's a loveless marriage. Then she starts to see the other side of Aadi and he sees the other side of her so it gets a bit more serious. Aadi notices that she’s actually business savvy and not just a trophy wife, so he inspires her to try and get away from Darren. They fall for each other but the reality soon kicks in. The money is with her husband but the love is with Aadi - which way will she go? I love the character, as I say, a lot of layers are still to be uncovered. I can't say much more, as they are future scripts, but I've really warmed to this character! I would love to see her stick around!
***
So, what are we thinking about Stephanie Davis joining the street? She's a former stage and singer, joining Jodi Prenger and Claire Sweeney in Weatherfild. Let's not forget we've also had a guest spot from musical legend Ruthie Henshall earlier this year too. Is ITV about to resurrect ''Street of Dreams'' - the Corrie musical?
Keep your eyes peeled as I've a few more interviews from this summer storylines press event still to come!
I am @rybazoxo on Twitter - Coronation Street Blog blogger and Corrie superfan
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Jeanie (anon): Hopefully this will be a bit of fun after all the doom and gloom on Misery Street (as we've taken to calling it). Yesterday with Gemma facing a large fine or worse as her brother is dying was just heaping on more of the same. Just please don't turn decent, down to earth Aadi into another womanizing, preening Dev, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI don't like this sleazy storyline. Aadi is lovely. Honest, hard-working, kind. He has high moral standards, so it's hard to believe he'd get drawn into an affair with a much older married woman.
ReplyDelete