Who Is Claire Sweeney’s Coronation Street Character Cassandra Plummer?
Claire Sweeney will soon hit the cobblestones as Cassandra Plummer, but who is she?
Former Brookside star Claire, 52, takes on the role of the long-lost mother of mechanic Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street.
For years, Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, assumed his birth mother was dead after being told this by his grandmother Evelyn Plummer, played by Dame Maureen Lipman.
Tyrone grew up believing his mother was Jackie Dobbs, played by Margi Clarke, but in 2018 research into his ancestry brought him into contact with his grandmother Evelyn for the first time.
It was then that he discovered evidence that Evelyn’s daughter Cassandra was in fact his biological mother.
Unrecognizable: Former Brookside star Claire Sweeney will soon hit the cobblestones as mechanic Tyrone Dobbs’ long-lost mother Cassandra Plummer, but who is she?
Backstory: For years, Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, assumed his birth mother was dead after being told by his grandmother Evelyn Plummer, played by Dame Maureen Lipman
Other: First look images have given a glimpse of her heroin-addicted nature, as Claire looked completely unrecognizable (Claire pictured normally)
Evelyn did not trust Cassandra to take good care of him due to her drug use and had left Tyrone at a police station in 1982, where he was found by Jackie who raised him as her own.
So when Cassie turns up out of nowhere on the cobblestones in June, Evelyn faces a real dilemma as she must decide whether to confess to Tyrone about her lies.
He faces more heartache as secrets and lies from his past threaten to destroy his relationship with his grandmother, while he must find a new relationship with his birth mother.
Viewers will watch the jaw-dropping family reunion play out as Claire makes her Coronation Street debut as Cassie, in scenes set to air on June 28.
In first-look footage, actress Claire looked completely unrecognizable as heroin-addicted Cassandra, as she snuck into a wall.
The talented Scouse star wore dirty clothes and a baseball cap, while looking thin and dehydrated.
In her first chat since joining the soap, Claire told a Coronation Street press conference: ‘I’m not vain.
“I’m an actress, the first day I filmed on the cobbles, one of the extras like you said to me, ‘Oh, we didn’t know that, we didn’t recognize you’ and a full ‘brilliant!’ that’s how I wanted to be, I want, I want her to be so far from me.’
mom? Tyrone grew up believing his mother was Jackie Dobbs, but in 2018 research into his ancestry put him in contact with Evelyn and then discovered that Evelyn’s daughter Cassandra was his birth mother (Photo: Actor Alan Halsall as Tyrone Dobbs)
Drama! Evelyn did not trust Cassandra to raise him properly due to her drug use and left Tyrone at a police station in 1982, where he was found by Jackie who raised him as her own.
“As soon as I put on the clothes, the leggings, the converse and the cap, which look really rough, I kind of become that character.
“And it would be interesting to see if she gets a little bit of glamor when she sorts herself out, I don’t know that far yet. I think it’s absolutely brilliant as an actress, you just want to be quite removed from yourself. And she sure is.’
No doubt Cassandra’s arrival will make a huge impression on Street, with actress Claire saying earlier this month: ‘Although I’ve been fortunate enough to have had an incredibly varied career for almost 40 years, casting in Coronation Street is, to me, better than being cast in a Hollywood movie!’
“I’ve watched it all my life and can’t believe I’m about to step on those famous cobblestones myself.”
“I was really nervous when I got the scripts to audition because this show means so much to me and my family.
Heading for the Rovers? Claire’s first appearance will air on June 28
“This is Corrie Gold, I was beyond thrilled and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod trusts me to play Tyrone’s mother and team up with one of my heroes, Dame Maureen Lipman.”
Coronation Street Producer Iain MacLeod said: ‘Claire wowed us in her audition and the scenes with her, Tyrone and Evelyn will be thrilling.
“Her arrival marks the beginning of a tumultuous time for Tyrone and the family and her impact will be felt across the street in the weeks and months that follow.”
Liverpool-born Claire was first known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkill in the scuse soap Brookside, for which she won Best Dramatic Scene at the British Soap Awards.
The actress went on to build a hugely successful stage career, which included playing Roxy Hart in Chicago’s West End.
She also starred in the world tour of the musical revue Fosse and took on the role of Miss Adelaide in the West End production of Guys and Dolls before touring the UK alongside Patrick Swayze in the same production.
Throwback: A native of Liverpool, Claire was first known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkill in scouse soap opera Brookside (pictured with Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill) and Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkill)
She was Paulette in Legally Blonde’s first UK tour; The Musical and Velma Von-Tussle in Hairspray’s UK tour and most recently led the cast of Dolly Parton’s musical 9to5 as Violet.
The mother-of-one’s television credits also include Benidorm, Scarborough, Candy Candy Cabs and Clocking Off.
In addition to her acting career, Claire is also an accomplished presenter who hosted a 60 minute makeover as well as BBC One’s Here Comes the Sun and co-hosted ITV’s Chef v Britain with Gino D’Campo as well as co-hosted Loose for several years Women. .
In 2014, Claire welcomed her son Jaxon with her former fiancé Daniel Riley.