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Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor says she would portray her character’s breast cancer storyline “very differently” now, having faced her own diagnosis.
The 62-year-old, known for playing Sally Metcalfe in the ITV soap since 1986, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 at 46.
The actor learned of her own condition on the same day that she filmed the scene where her on-screen character shared her diagnosis with her husband.
Speaking to Prima magazine, Dynevor explained that she would approach the narrative with a new perspective after her personal experience.
She said: “I think there are moments in the show that, like the breast cancer storyline, which, if I went back, I think I would have done very differently. In the sense that because I got it myself, I realised what it was like to go through breast cancer and how much you hide your pain from people you love.
“I think I didn’t play it that way. I played it that Sally was very emotional and upset, and I think that now I would have gone back and played it completely differently because real-life experiences make you go, ‘Ah, I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have done this’.”
She added: “The first day when I came back after having six months off… I felt incredibly emotional and so grateful that… I’d not taken it for granted at all, but to go away and think, ‘Will I ever go back?’ and then to be doing what you enjoy doing, you’re just so grateful for having that opportunity again.”
Dynevor described the role as the “perfect job” and that she never in a “million years” thought she would be on the famous cobbles for four decades.
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She said: “I just thought it was going to be a year at the most, but I look back now and I think, ‘Gosh, four decades, that is a long time.’ Not many people are in the same job for 40 years any more, let alone acting.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to retire. I’ll stay here as long as they want me; if they don’t want me any more, I’ll still try to do something, because the idea of retirement just sounds awful to me!
“When you love what you do, why would you want to retire? I come into work every day and I’m surrounded by wonderful young people who are showing me what’s going on in the world and the fashions, and they’re exciting and interesting.
“I love young people. So the idea of just packing it all in and sitting at home and going, ‘Right, what shall I do today?’ Just absolutely not.”
The actress is married to Emmerdale scriptwriter Tim Dynevor and they have three children, including Phoebe, who starred in the hit Netflix drama series Bridgerton.
Dynevor was made an MBE for services to drama in the 2021 New Year Honours.
