Coronation Street legend Kate Ford has been an integral member of the soap since 2002 as Tracy Barlow.
The Weatherfield icon has had an amazing run on the cobbles and has played a key role in many crucial storylines throughout the years.
Although Kate’s character has become a lot tamer in more recent times on the soap, die-hard Corrie fans may remember Tracy for her shocking tryst with the loveable Roy Cropper and let’s not forget the time she murdered her boyfriend Charlie Stubbs back in 2007.
Despite the fact that Kate’s character Tracy has lived a rather turbulent existence on screen, many fans are unaware as to what the actress gets up to away from the show.
Daily Star has taken a look inside Kate life away from the cobbles.
Early days
(Image: ITV)
Before Coronation Street, Kate starred in a music video for The Beatles in 1995 for their single Free As A Bird.
A few years later in 2002, she appeared in a spin-off EastEnders episode.
The spin-off show centred around main characters Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson.
Not long after, Kate took on the role of the iconic Tracy Barlow in Coronation Street in the autumn of 2002.
Kate was the fourth actress to play the character, bringing a much darker, sinister side to the role.
Unlike the previous actors before, the character was portrayed as much more cunning and conniving.
Marriage and divorce
In October 2007, Ford married TV producer Jon Connerty. In 2008, the pair welcomed their first child, Otis.
But in 2013, the couple decided to call time on their partnership and divorced in September of that year.
Kate previously described the breakdown of her relationship as “painful” but admitted that concentrating on her work did help her get through it.
Speaking about her divorce to The Sun, the actress said: “When Jon and I first parted it was quite hard to put my personal life aside.
“But then it became therapeutic to concentrate on my job.”
She added: “We really tried hard to make it work. But it came to the point when we knew we had to get a divorce.”
Lavish home
Kate lives in a sumptuous home in the affluent area of Dulwich, south London with her son Otis.
The Salford-born star also lives relatively close to former X Factor presenter Kate Thornton.
Previously speaking to The Mirror regarding her connection with Kate, the actress previously said: “We live on the same street in London and our boys are really good friends. We’re so close, and in and out of each other’s houses all the time.”
Kate’s gorgeous home includes large floor to ceiling windows in the living room as well as a gaming room, and play house complete with its own balcony.
Judging from the pictures that Kate has uploaded to her Instagram, her gorgeous living room backs on to her kitchen and dining area.
But Kate also has her very own separate dining room too which sports a sleek white dining table which is perfect for entertaining friends and family.
Kate’s bedroom appears to be soft and vibrant, with beautiful cream and silver striped wallpaper and light wooden floors.
Directly above her bed is a bright green hummingbird painting. She also added two large bright green lamps on either side of her bed.
Health battle
Last year during lockdown, Kate openly admitted to fans that she suffered with endometriosis and was struggling with her symptoms.
Endometriosis is a long-term medical condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow and develop in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Kate currently suffers with grade four endometriosis which is the severe stage of the condition.
Taking to Twitter last year, Kate penned: “As someone with grade four endometriosis I realise how much I rely on my massage therapy to help with this.
“Due to COVID I’ve not been able to visit my therapist for three months. My body is sore I’ll never take this therapy for granted again xx”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on BBC One
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
