Coronation Street newcomer discusses lesbian storyline
Soap newbie Faye Brooks has discussed her upcoming same-sex storyline.
The storyline will see Brooks’ character Kate Connor getting engaged to her girlfriend, Caz (Rhea Bailey).
Brooks – who will play Shayne Ward’s sister in the long-running soap – says she is excited to see how fans will react to the story, but said that she didn’t want to “pigeonhole” her character, reports Digital Spy.
“It’s a challenge. I didn’t want to pigeonhole her into playing a stereotype,” the actress said of playing out a lesbian relationship.
Brooks’s co-star Richard Hawley – who will play her father – added: “You’re not on this big coming out story because it’s already happened.”
Kate and her father will join Shayne Ward’s character Aidan on screen later this month.
Coronation Street’s said in a statement: “Kate is a funny and vibrant young woman full of fun and mischief.
“But behind the teasing and laughter, Kate is passionate about her family – there is nothing she wouldn’t do for them”
Caz is a soldier and will arrive to celebrate Kate’s birthday with her in November – using the opportunity to set a date for their impending wedding.
Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding recently revealed that she was originally meant to play a lesbian character during her stint on Coronation Street.
The singer – who has branched out into acting as well as pursuing a solo career following her band’s split in 2013 – appeared on the soap last month.
Explaining that her character could have been part of a love triangle with Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) and Maddie Heath (Amy Kelly), she said: “We just threw a load of ideas out there.
“At one point I was going to possibly come between the lesbian girls but it didn’t happen.”
The soap currently features a number of LGB characters – with actor Daniel Brocklebank revealing that he has had death threats for playing gay vicar Billy.
Long-running transgender character Hayley Cropper was killed off in an emotional episode last year.
