Katherine Kelly captured the nation’s hearts when she starred as loud-mouthed but kind hearted chav Becky McDonald in Coronation Street.
From her marriage to then pub landlord Steve to suffering several miscarriages, Becky soon became a soap staple during her time on the cobbles.
By the time her sister Kylie turned up with her son Max in tow, Becky and Steve felt they should get involved in the youngster’s life as Kylie was seen as an unfit mum.
Since quitting the cobbles, actress Katherine has gone on to star in a multitude of dramas, including Mr Selfridge, Happy Valley and Innocent.
But what has gone on in her personal life since her Corrie exit? To celebrate her 42nd birthday, Daily Star takes a look.
Sex scenes
(Image: ITV)
While starring in ITV drama Cheat, Katherine acted out an extremely controversial masturbation scene – but admitted it takes more than that to get her blushing.
It came as her character Leah needed a release of her “pent-up” energy – leading to the ultra steamy scene.
The star told The Sun: “It really takes a lot for me to be embarrassed. I have done sex scenes a lot before, I had my fair share of them in Mr Selfridge.
“I have had two children and after childbirth, you are not embarrassed by anything.”
She added that the “practicalities” of filming the scenes are “so clinical”, which helped her switch off from it.
She explained: “It was a hot day, the room was blacked out and we were so hot because we had this massive duvet on us. There were 20 people in the room.”
Marriage split
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Katherine married digital analyst Ryan Clark in a private Las Vegas ceremony back in 2013.
The pair originally met in Australia, at the wedding of Katherine’s best pal.
She told Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine back in 2016: “He was with someone else and I’d only split up with my boyfriend of six years the week before.
“We became good mates first because he was part of my friend’s circle, and I’d see him whenever I was visiting her. Then when I went back, he was single and so was I, so it was lovely to get together romantically at last.”
Tragically, the pair announced in August 2020 that they had split up after seven years of marriage.
The pair share two young daughters – Orla and Rose.
Royal link
(Image: PA)
Katherine’s character Becky might have been gently referred to as trailer trash – but Katherine herself definitely moves in high places.
She was even a superstar guest at Mike and Zara Tindall’s wedding back in July 2011.
Katherine was childhood pals with Mike, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara.
She went to school in Wakefield with the former England rugby player, and the pair lived in the same village.
Speaking to YOU Magazine, she explained: “He was amazing at rugby and I was good at drama and we were both really dedicated, so there would be nights where we would be out at a club ’til two in the morning with everybody, but we’d be on soft drinks because he’d got a match and I’d got rehearsals the next morning.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Mike is even godfather to Katherine’s eldest daughter Orla – and she admits she goes out “quite a lot” with the Royal pair, who she says are “unbelievable fun”.
Mike and Zara aren’t the only royals Katherine has spent time with, as she also met former Suits actress and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.
She showed her support for Prince Harry’s wife on Instagram in Sarah Chapman’s emotional post after the explosive Oprah interview, adding the caption: “I have spent a little time with Meghan and I also found her to be as delightful as Sarah says below.”
Glam transformation
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Far from her typical cobbles look with long blonde tresses tumbling down her back, Katherine switched things up earlier this year with a brand new cropped ‘do.
With her stunning hair trimmed into a bob, Katherine went as far as to dye her usually brunette locks bubblegum pink.
For one stunning photo, she donned a floor-length black dress emblazoned with a blue floral pattern and puff sleeves and flared cuffs.
She said she had waited “about five years” to finally make the dramatic transformation, explaining: “I’ve been very lucky – I tend to go from job to job. But that means I can never choose my own hair colour. I’ve wanted to dye it pink for about five years.”
Soap return
(Image: ITV)
Despite fans clamouring to see Becky on-screen once more, Katherine formally ruled out a return to Coronation Street back in 2013.
She said: “I’ve always said I would love to pop back to Coronation Street but I don’t think it will ever logistically be possible.
“Isn’t that sad?”
She went as far as to say it would be a “bitter disappointment” to revisit the character of Becky earlier this year, admitting: “That character was very much of her time and I think, in all honesty, she would be a bitter disappointment to revisit.
(Image: ITV)
“I would hate for her to be spoiled in any way, because it was such a perfect character, at a perfect time. Becky’s better left with a fondness.”
However, a soap insider added in 2013: “I know there are still plans to bring her back and the door is open. She really is a top girl.”
Becky was never killed off on the soap, either on- or off-screen, and left after boarding a flight to Barbados with Danny, who she later became engaged to.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
