Julie Hesmondhalgh to get lifetime achievement award

Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh is to become the first winner of The Theatres Trust's lifetime achievement award.

The former Coronation Street star from Accrington, Lancashire, is being recognised for her exceptional performances on stage and screen, as well as her work in championing regional theatres.

Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper for more than 15 years, said she was "very honoured" with the accolade which will be presented to her at the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards in London on 2 November.

She is currently starring in BBC One's The Celebrity Traitors. Here's a look at her career and campaigning work.

The 56-year-old was born in Accrington and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

She is best known for playing Hayley Cropper in the ITV soap Coronation Street from 1998 to 2014. As the first transgender character in a British soap opera, Hayley Cropper was groundbreaking and became one of the programme's most popular characters.

Her on-screen partner, Roy Cropper, was played by David Neilson, who said after Hayley's death: "Playing that sort of story costs you. You have to dig deep to play it properly. And Julie always did.

"I remember the last scene we did; it was unlike any other scene I've done in the show. The director, Kay Patrick, told us and the crew to take as long as we needed to prepare for it, because we'd only be doing it once. And we did only do it once. You could have heard a pin drop in the studio. It truly felt like an ending."

While Hesmondhalgh has since starred in television dramas including Happy Valley, Broadchurch and Mr Bates vs The Post Office, she has also built a celebrated theatre career. Earlier this year, she won an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Joan in James Graham's acclaimed play Punch, which was based on a true story.

The Theatres Trust said the award recognises Hesmondhalgh's contribution to theatre both on and off the stage.

Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of the Theatres Trust, said she shared the organisation's belief that everyone should have access to theatre and live performance, regardless of where they live or their background.

"There is no one in the public eye who embodies this spirit more than Julie Hesmondhalgh," he said.

"Julie has used her platform as one of the country's most beloved actors to bang the drum for inclusive and equitable access to the performing arts and champion important community theatres."

Her campaigning work includes a leading role in efforts to save Oldham Coliseum from permanent closure and support for the reopening of Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre.

Hesmondhalgh has backed a long-running campaign to secure the future of Oldham Coliseum, which is expected to reopen in 2027 after receiving an additional £7m to remove asbestos and repair structural defects.

Speaking after the funding was announced, she said: "Making the beautiful old girl properly future-proof is the number one priority."

She also co-founded Manchester's award-winning Take Back Theatre Collective and supports the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme and youth charity Arts Emergency.

Hesmondhalgh is thrilled with the award.

She said: "I'm very honoured to be awarded this inaugural award from the Theatres Trust, celebrating as it does the successful campaign to save Oldham Coliseum - a movement entirely led by a community who were not willing to see their historic, beloved theatre disappear.

"I'm so proud to have been a small part of the gang who made that happen, and now to be part of the company who are working so hard to get us to the point of reopening and beyond."

Julie Hesmondhalgh is currently starring in The Celebrity Traitors, where she was voted the 'most trustworthy' contestant on the opening day of the hit show.

The accolade earned her a shield from the first murder, but it also prompted suspicion from some of her fellow players, which she successfully deflected.

Whether she can hold on to her reputation as the castle's most trustworthy resident, or is tempted to dabble in deception, remains to be seen.

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