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For some, there is the security of regular work and household name awareness, perhaps even self recognition of acting limitations and gratitude for continuing professional stability. For others, regular work in “soaps” will always be a stepping stone to bigger and more challenging roles. Following in the footsteps of Sarah Lancashire, Yorkshire born Katherine Kelly was never going to be indefinitely tied to the cobbled streets of Weatherfield.

Kelly’s journey to becoming a household name began long before her appearance on Coronation Street, although her six year stint as Becky Granger undoubtedly cemented her foothold in the business. She would leave the series in 2012.

Today, the 45-year-old confesses that had she known how long her stint on the cobbles would be, she might have declined the opportunity.

“I had been offered another season at the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company), but I didn’t want to be typecast in classical theatre, so I told my London agent that I’d never been considered for Coronation Street or Emmerdale.”

“My agent asked, ‘Do you want to see them? ‘ They assumed I wouldn’t be interested, but those were the shows I grew up watching. My dad’s Irish and Corrie is massive in the south of Ireland. A role came up, it was only about a dozen episodes, and I thought it was perfect. If I’d known how long it was going to last, I probably would have declined, because I like to keep changing things up.”

Her stint on “The Street” led to multiple awards, including the British Soap Award for Best Actress (2009) and the NTA for Best Serial Drama Performance (2012).

Her subsequent career has skyrocked with roles that include Lady Mae in Mr Selfridge (2013–2014, 2016), DI Jodie Shackleton in “Happy Valley” (2016), Miss Andrea Quill in “Class” (2016), Jane Lowry in “Strike Back” (2017–2018), DCI Natalie Hobbs in “Criminal”: UK (2019–2020), Elizabeth Sutherland in “Gentleman Jack2 (2019–2022), DI Karen Renton in “Liar2 (2020), Sally Wright in “Innocent” (2021), and a chillingly focused Angela van Den Bogerd in “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (2024)