Sally Ann Matthews is confident about her return to ‘Coronation Street’ after overcoming bulimia.
The 44-year-old actress – who originally appeared on the ITV soap as Rita Fairclough’s feisty foster daughter Jenny Bradley 22 years ago – endured an eight-month battle against the eating disorder during her first stint on the show following a biting remark from a TV critic.
Sally – who returns in scenes to air next week – explained: "When I was in Corrie first time around there was no real celebrity culture. No Twitter, Facebook.
"In those days, before social media, people were much more focused on the TV critics – who were sort of celebrities themselves."
Sally explained that her off-screen troubles started when a critic questioned the plausibility of a storyline in which Jenny got engaged to a French man.
She recalled the critic saying: "What would a handsome Frenchman boy like Patric see in a little pudding like Jenny Bradley?"
Sally explained how the remark triggered a downward spiral in her personal life.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "For me that was then eight months of active bulimia and then recovery.
"What was difficult was other people’s expectations of what my life was like.
"As a teenager I was at school but working, so friends would tell me they were having a party but assume I was busy or wouldn’t be interested.
"Also, everybody felt they knew you, and because you played a certain character that you were like that. That was hard."
Sally’s return to the show sees her go on a date with car mechanic Kevin Webster, who’s played by Michael Le Vell.
She said of Jenny’s upcoming storylines:"I think she always probably fancied him back in the day.
"Whether she is using him to get back in, only time will tell. Whether the fling will develop who knows?"
Sally Ann Matthews ready for Coronation Street return
