Claire Sweeney has spoken about the emotional moment she had to say goodbye to Coronation Street. The actress, who plays Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap, admitted that she did not realize how much the show meant to her until her final day of filming.
After spending three years in Weatherfield, Sweeney said leaving behind the cast and crew felt like saying goodbye to family. Dive in for more information.
Why Leaving Coronation Street Hit Claire So Hard
Sweeney explained that most of her acting career has involved moving from one project to another. Whether it was theatre or television, she would spend time with people, form close friendships, and then move on when the job ended.
Looking back on her final days at Coronation Street, she said she was surprised by how emotional she became. “And I didn’t realise until my last day of filming how I actually felt,” she said.
The actress explained that working on a long-running soap was very different from her previous jobs. In theatre, a production may last a few months before everyone goes their separate ways. Because of that, she became used to people coming in and out of her life.
“My job has always been so transient. You guys are here every day. You see each other. You’ve got your family, the crew. And with theatre, you do a job. Nine months is a long run, which I’m doing this time, or it could be a four-month run. And you love each other for that month’s time. You move on. Few people stick. It’s like a train, isn’t it? People get on in your life, then the train moves on.”
The Cast And Crew Became Like Family
After three years on the soap, Sweeney said she had built strong friendships with many of the people she worked with every day. She spoke warmly about her co-stars, including Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs, Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald, and Kate Ford, who plays Tracy Barlow. She also praised the crew members and makeup team who became a big part of her daily life.
“Corrie, because I’ve been there three years, you know, Tyrone, Alan Halsall, he’s become part of the family. Simon Gregson plays Steve McDonald, and Kate Ford, Ellie. They’ve become like the crew. They’ve all become like family, the makeup girls.”
Because of those close relationships, saying goodbye was not easy. “And it was hard saying goodbye. It was very, very emotional.” Still, Sweeney said she feels grateful for everything the show gave her and believes she could not have asked for a better ending. “But I feel, you know, very blessed. I’ve been given the most wonderful exit storyline. I couldn’t wish for better.”
Although she could not reveal many details about Cassie’s departure, Sweeney did share one clue about what viewers can expect. While she is excited about what comes next, saying goodbye to the people she worked with every day was one of the hardest parts of leaving the show. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers and behind-the-scenes updates.