“A part where it doesn’t matter how I look is exciting”: Stephanie Beacham, 75, calls Coronation Street her favorite job of her 60-year career
Stephanie Beacham revealed she was “breathing a sigh of relief” as she revived her Martha Fraser character on Coronation Street, as it’s one of her favorite roles from her 60-year career.
The 75-year-old actress – who rose to fame as glamorous Sable Colby opposite Joan Collins on 1980s US soap Dynasty – said it was “exciting” to hit the cobbles because they don’t give it a thought have to “how I look”.
Stephanie first landed the role of Corrie in 2009 before briefly returning to the role last month.
‘Finally!’: Stephanie Beacham revealed she could ‘breathe with relief’ as she played Martha Fraser on Coronation Street, which is one of her favorite roles from her 60-year career (pictured on the soap last month)
The veteran star admitted she can finally put her professional training from RADA to good use as she plays Martha, who suffers from Alzheimer’s.
She told The Mirror: “Taking on a role where it doesn’t matter what I look like is a very exciting thing. It didn’t matter how I was lit or what angle I was shot from. I breathe a sigh of relief and think: “Finally!”
“The most important thing was to play the character the way I was taught and not to focus entirely on the looks. So to speak, under the outer wrapper, I am a perfectly evolved and evolving being who can bring so much life experience into a role.”
‘I have so much life experience to put into a role’: The 75-year-old actress said it’s ‘exciting’ to hit the cobbles because she doesn’t have to worry about ‘how I look’ ( picture last month).
Stephanie is looking forward to taking on similar roles in the future and has no plans to retire as it “keeps me young”.
She added, “I don’t think actors retire. We just keep going until we can’t anymore. Acting, with all its challenges, keeps me young.”
The Bad Girls star was last seen on the Cobbles in 2009 when Martha and former love interest Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, 90, began an affair behind his wife Deirdre’s back.
Stephanie’s original stay on the Cobbles only lasted five months, but went down in Corrie folklore.
Review! Stephanie rose to fame playing the glamorous Sable Colby opposite Joan Collins in the 1980s US soap opera Dynasty
Martha courted Ken while living on a barge, having recently separated from her husband and believing Ken to be a widower after he told her his son Peter’s mother had died.
They bonded over a shared love of literature and after falling in love with each other, they ended up kissing.
Wracked with guilt, Ken came to terms with his marriage to Deirdre, prompting Martha’s decision to end their affair.
But the pair still couldn’t resist each other, eventually sleeping together and intending to leave Weatherfield before Ken changed his mind and stayed with Deirdre.
Original occupation: The Bad Girls star was last seen on the Cobbles in 2009 when Martha and former love interest Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, 90, began an affair behind his wife Deirdre’s back (pictured in 2009)