Former Coronation Street star Suranne Jones has accused soap operas of “using their girls” after she was told to “strip for lads’ mags” when she first started on the show.
The 41-year-old actress, who is best known for playing Karen McDonald in the ITV soap from 2000 until 2004, has admitted that the culture of stripping to her undies for photoshoots made her uncomfortable.
Speaking about when she first joined Corrie, Surname told the Give Me Strength podcast: “The first few months was about me being whisked off and put in a bikini in Barbados.
“At this time I’d only been on one holiday abroad to Spain with my mates. I was like, ‘Wow’.
She added: “Then I was on a celeb special for Stars In Their Eyes, then put in a magazine with a bra and knickers on.
Surrane Jones has opened up about her early days at Coronation Street (Image: GETTY)
“They’d give you a glass of champagne to get you a little loose.
“I remember thinking it was fun at first, but I realised it wasn’t what I signed up to.”
Referencing some of the photoshoots she was convinced to appear in, she added: “There are some dodgy photos out there, there’s one in a diner where I am squirting ketchup and mustard.
“I don’t think Coronation Street was alone in that. I think all of the soaps used their girls in that way.”
The actress has admitted that stripping to her undies for photoshoots made her uncomfortable (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Daily Star Online has contacted ITV for comment.
Suranne joined Coronation Street cast in 2000 as factory worker Karen McDonald, and was known for both her on-off relationship with Steve McDonald, and her rivalry with Tracy Barlow, which culminated in a now-iconic scene on her wedding day.
The TV star, who is married to screenwriter Laurance Akers, embarked on a successful post-soap career, winning a Bafta for her portrayal as Dr Gemma Foster in Dr Foster.
Things took a “scary” turn for the actress in 2018 when she collapsed on stage while starring in WestEnd Frozen, forcing her to withdraw from the show.
Suranne played Karen McDonald in Coronation Street from 2000 until 2004
She recalled: “I’d done 90 shows, there were big groups of people coming to see me.
“The pressure got to me until I collapsed in front of an audience.
“I couldn’t see because my vision had gone, it was really scary.”
Mum of one Suranne later sought help for anxiety after a second collapse.
Coronation Street continues on ITV on Monday at 7.30pm
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
