Cassie Plummer’s had quite the run on Coronation Street, be it clashing with Tyrone or drugging Ken Barlow. But while Cassie’s drama plays out in front of the cameras, Claire Sweeney, who plays her, has been dealing with something a lot more personal behind the scenes. And it’s something she’s carried with her since the very beginning of her TV career.
Coronation Street Star Still Second-Guesses Herself
Claire Sweeney might look confident on screen, but she’s been battling imposter syndrome since the early days of her career. Fans will remember her as Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside, she first showed up back in 1991 and stayed till the soap wrapped in 2003.
But even then, when her star was rising, she didn’t feel like she belonged. Claire said she kept her head down, watched everyone else closely, and tried to learn quietly.
She admitted she had “terrible” imposter syndrome even back then, and what’s surprising is that it hasn’t gone away. She shared that she still feels it now while filming Coronation Street.
The actress explained that sometimes her instinct is to say, “Oh, I’ve just been lucky,” but then she reminds herself she’s worked hard, she’s earned her stripes. And even with all her experience, she still watches her co-stars like Bill Roache and Simon Gregson to learn from them, calling them fantastic at what they do.
Claire Gets Real About Her Self-Doubt
Speaking on The Speakmans podcast, Claire opened up more than ever about what it’s really like. She admitted that she feels imposter syndrome “all the time.” During her Brookside days, she spent six full years being shocked every time her contract got renewed. Even now, she said she never expects to be asked back.
She added that the acting world isn’t built on safety or security, so she never assumes anything. That mindset, she said, keeps her grounded, and probably helps her stay humble too. She also said she’s still pushing herself to grow. Claire still takes singing lessons and is constantly trying to improve her skills. She’s not just coasting. Even with all her time on telly, she’s still learning every day, just like she did when she first started out.
Cassie’s Messy Storyline Had Nothing on Claire’s Quiet Battle
Of course, fans have seen Claire bring plenty of drama as Cassie since she joined Corrie in 2023. Her most recent storyline was a wild one, Cassie secretly drugged Ken Barlow after losing her job as his carer, just so he’d rely on her again.
In the end, Ken figured it out and confronted her, putting a stop to the whole scheme. But while Cassie’s behaviour was full-on, Claire’s own struggles have been happening behind the scenes. Despite her success, Claire still wrestles with self-doubt. And hearing her talk about it so honestly just makes her even more relatable. Loads of actors might feel this way but not many say it out loud.
Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more behind-the-scenes moments and all your latest Coronation Street gossip.
