How did you feel when you found out that the Mason stabbing was something that was going to bring everything back for her and she was going to have PTSD?
Well, I knew that that coincided with Harry coming back, and that really interested me to see how that would play out, and to act out those scenes when he appears has been amazing.. There's so much history there and and there is a realism to the scenes, because you've gone through it, whether it's acting or not. It was the easiest thing to do in the world, to respond to and to play that, because it was actually happening in real time with him there in the room and it was, it was a phenomenal opportunity, and I loved it. I didn't realize that that was actually a thing that could happen with PTSD, to realize that people are suffering like that is horrific, absolutely horrendous. Again, it's just bringing awareness and more understanding to what PTSD actually is. This is a very serious, very serious
We've been working with the charity PTSDUK what research were you able to do?
I did have a look. I wanted to have some idea about the symptoms etc. I didn't want to overload my head with information, because that's not how I work. I wanted to obviously look at the facts but I wanted to hear people's stories about how it personally affected them, so I could make it personal and use that. It is immense, serious trauma, regardless of what causes it and everyone's experience is different.
You've touched a little bit on what it was like doing those scenes with Harry. Were you thrilled that he was back for a while?
It was nice to see him in the green room. I just loved it. It was just gorgeous and just brightened my day. Even though we did those horrible scenes, he was so eager, and so happy to be back. He loved it. He was buzzing from it. He got every little bit of whatever he could out of it. And it's just that kind of energy you can't help but be buoyed up by it, and full of positive energy anyway. Having Abi and Seb back together was special.
And then in the midst of all this, Kevin has had this diagnosis. How is she coping with that?
She's overwhelmed anyway, having to basically relive her son's death numerous times throughout the day, because that's essentially what she's doing when she sees him. So I think it's just too much. I think it's so hard for her to navigate that the fear of losing Kev on top of everything else, I think that just intent intensifies the PTSD to the point where she has to do something about it, because she just is too much and it's beyond her ability to control it.
Can you tell us about the events after she's been to the hospital with Kevin for his ultrasound, and we've had the situation where she left Alfie in the car and the fallout with her and Toyah. How was she feeling at that point?
I think with the whole entire thing, it's a trigger, she's not thinking straight, because she's now back in that headspace. She and Toyah were absolutely fine but now she's paranoid. She's scared to death, and that fear manifests in being paranoid which is why she lashes out.
What was going through her mind when she got home to find a social worker there?
She walked back into her house and there was a social worker sat there and that is her worst nightmare. It is one of those moments when the floor just gets taken from underneath you. It is like an out of body experience. There is nowhere to hide either so she's just on autopilot trying to get through it. I don't think she even really knows what she's saying at that point.
That's one of the things that she is constantly in fear of, because she's lived through that all her life with her children.
So she thinks at that point that Debbie has reported her, doesn't she? What is the relationship like with Debbie?
She and Debbie have a brilliant relationship, because they can be the closest, closest friends and really love each other, and then they can be best of enemies. It's a constant fight, and I love it, but I think when it really boils down to it there's more moments of togetherness than opposition, certainly with what Kevin's going through, but you like to say her mind is not in the right place.
This is the week where she actually finds that actually it was Toyah. So how, how does that make her feel?
Well, it confirms everything that she feels about Toyah. And she's decided in the PTSD that nothing and no one is going to come between her and Alfie, whatever that takes and she means it. So when she goes to find Toyah after finding out, she's not thinking straight, she's right back into fight or flight, and she's fighting, she's not going intentionally to potentially kill her. She's going to absolutely stop this once and for all. She's warned her. She's not backed off, and then she's gone and done this for that. And Abi has gone there to finish the conversation. And she ends up hitting and and essentially leaving her for dead.
Has Abi regressed somewhat into the old Abi, the one we first met, the impulsive, Abi who acts first and thinks later?
Because of her mental state yes absolutely, and it's fight or flight. And actually, interestingly, she potentially does both, because, you know, she doesn't know how seriously injured Toyah is, and she decides that she needs to get out.
Why does she think she has to leave?
Because she was having one of her PTSD episodes when it all happened she doesn’t actually know what she has done. She sees the house is on fire and she doesn't understand how that's happened, but she knows it's probably her doing. She was there. She was angry. There was conflict, but she doesn't remember. After that, she put two and two together, like you would and made five. Then she believes there is no other way out of it. She's got too much history. She said too much. She knows she's not well. She recognises these feelings. She doesn't trust herself in any way. She doesn't trust her actions. So she's like, the only one option I've got is to go and obviously because of Abi and who she is there's no shortage of people who also believe that is what could have happened.
Are you enjoying going back to that Abi and that side of her, because for a while now, she's been very domesticated? She's got her job and her life has been settled and now this!
I do. I love the intensity of the crisis. Whenever she sees him it is like the moment before he died and she is getting the news all over again and again. So it's been exhausting because you've got to play for real, but yes, I have loved it, and I love that, you know, she again is behaving badly, because she's great when she behaves badly.
It's going to be a big year for Abi with Kevin's illness, and the upcoming dementia storyline with Debbie. Did you ever imagine that you could be at the centre of storylines for a heritage family that has been in the show for 40 years?
No, Corrie is an absolute dream job anyway but then to think it could get better than that. Just being on the show, actually being involved in the Webster's lives and being central to that just blows my socks off daily. Absolutely it does. I still have pinch me moments all the time.
Glenda Young
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