You probably remember Karen McDonald, bold, fiery, and absolutely unforgettable. But behind the scenes, things weren’t as fun for Suranne Jones, who played her. She has now shared what life was really like during her time on Coronation Street, and it wasn’t all red carpets and champagne.
Back When Karen McDonald Took Over Our Screens
Think back to the early 2000s. Karen and Steve were the couple to watch. Suranne was brilliant, no doubt about that, and viewers loved how fierce and full-on Karen was. But all that screen time came at a cost. Suranne mentioned that the show started airing more episodes each week, which meant the cast was suddenly in everyone’s living rooms all the time.
She was filming a lot and appearing constantly, so naturally, people started to assume she was just like her character. Since Karen was wild and unpredictable, the press expected Suranne to be the same in real life. That attention might sound exciting, but for her, it was really overwhelming.
The Coronation Street Struggles She Kept Hidden
In a chat on the Table Manners podcast, Suranne shared that while Corrie boosted her career, she didn’t enjoy the fame part. She said, “It was not fun. Not when you’re young.” You could tell she meant it. She talked about being followed by paparazzi and having people wait outside her house. She said it was “just a different time,” when the press could be quite intense, especially if you didn’t fit a certain image.
And let’s not forget, she was only in her mid-20s. She joked that Corrie was her version of university since she hadn’t gone to one. She also mentioned winning several awards back then because fans really loved Karen, but that just added to the pressure. The media, she felt, wanted her to be “interesting,” and they didn’t really separate her from the character.
Moving On, But Not Forgetting
Years have passed since Karen McDonald left Weatherfield, but those memories clearly haven’t faded for Suranne. She has gone on to do amazing work, including Gentleman Jack, Vigil, and now she’s starring in a Netflix thriller called Hostage, where she plays a British Prime Minister dealing with her husband’s kidnapping.
Still, her time on Corrie shaped her in a big way, and it’s refreshing to hear her speak honestly about it. Not many actors share the tough side of soap fame, but Suranne did, and she’s grown from it. She may be far from the cobbles now, but for many of us, she’ll always be Karen McDonald; feisty, fabulous, and a true Coronation Street legend. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more behind-the-scenes gossip and all the latest from your favorite stars.