The 53-year-old actress plays the role of drug addict Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap
Claire Sweeney has shared the real-life inspiration behind her Coronation Street character as the drama continues to unfold on the cobbles.
The 53-year-old actress plays the role of drug addict Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap and admitted that she gained a “deeper understanding” of the character through the London-based musician, who has been open about his own struggles in the past.
She told The Mirror: “[DJ Fat] Tony’s journey gave me a deeper understanding of vulnerability and strength. His honesty helped me bring more real emotion to my character in ‘Coronation Street’.
“I drew so much from Tony’s experiences. It taught me how to approach my role with realness and depth, especially with Cassie’s complicated past.”
The former Brookside actress arrived on the cobbles as the long-lost biological mother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), who for years had been thought to be the son of Deirdre Barlow’s former cellmate Jackie Dobbs (Margi Clarke).
Since then, Cassie has been embroiled in a host of storylines and after taking up the position of Ken Barlow’s (William Roache) carer, it was found that she had been lacing his tea with drugs and spending his money without him realising.
Having been rejected by Tyrone and his wife Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine) over her actions to Weatherfield’s oldest resident, she was left homeless.
But her mum, Evelyn Plummer, returned back to Weatherfield having left for her university studies and convinced her grandson to give his mum a chance as she need all their help in staying clean after a ‘near miss’ having got on the wrong side of a drug dealer.
Claire has previously described Cassie as a “joy to play”, saying that she is not a “one dimensional” character. She added: “The stuff that they’ve written for her has been absolutely brilliant.
“But it’s the vulnerability mixed with the streak of evil and the fieriness, and they give her a lot of comedy lines as well, so she is a joy to play. I just love playing her because she’s funny, she’s a bit evil, she’s vulnerable, and she is just an absolute joy to play.”
Claire’s comments come just weeks after Tony took to social media himself to recount his early struggles with drug addiction. In January, he wrote on Instagram: “18 years ago I was on deaths door ravished by addiction waiting to die was all I had to look forward too.
“TODAY I celebrate 18 years of Recovery I have so much love and gratitude for everyone that has been a part of this journey so far. One day at a time LIFE IS FOR LIVING When we are at our lowest there’s only one place to go and that’s up don’t let anyone tell you your not worth it and don’t ever give up because when we learn a new way of life …….WE DO RECOVER.”
