Julie Hesmondhalgh says it would be wrong if she was still playing transgender character Hayley Cropper in ‘Coronation Street’.
The 46-year-old star played the beloved factory worker in the ITV soap from 1998 until 2014 but insisted that if the role was cast today, it should be played by a trans actor.
According to the Daily Mirror, she said: "It ended just as there was this whole movement of young trans actors coming through and it would have been such an anomaly, it would have been absolutely wrong for me to be playing that part now.
"It just happened at the right time that I went and everyone else took over.
"It felt the right moment and it would have been anachronistic for me to be playing that part now, it would have been strange.
"But I’m really proud of all that and it changed my life beyond measure. I still get a lot of love for it and get Hayley hugs."
While Julie is hugely proud of her time in ‘Coronation Street’, she hopes that she will be remembered for the work she has done since she left, including acting in ‘Happy Valley’ and ‘Broadchurch’.
She said: "It never leaves you, it never does. I’ve left it, very much so, but she will always be part of me, will Hayley.
"I love that part and I love that whole time in my life but I feel very separate from it now."
Julie Hesmondhalgh: It would be wrong for me to play Hayley Cropper today
