Clare Mcglinn News
The above pictures are available on the internet in larger form , but i can not access
If anybody has a copy please e-mail claremcglinn@googlemail.com
Special thanks to Clare McGlinn Im in her play - Lorraie Chase ( Loose Women ITV 13.02 11/05/2007 )
Yer see I get my meat from the best butcher in Wakefield , Allums - Jane McDonald ( Loose Women ITV 12.47 14/05/2007 )
21st - 25th August | 7.30pm
Dead Guilty
By Richard Harris
When John Haddrell dies of a heart attack at the wheel of his car, the woman at his side is not his wife Margaret but his lover, Julia. Recovering from the injuries she sustained in the ensuing crash, Julia is visited by Margaret, who apparently knows nothing of the affair. Events take a sinister turn when Margaret begins to encroach on Julia's life, engineering Julia's dismissal of her home help, Gary, and her estrangement from her counsellor, Anne. Left alone in the house together, Julia and Margaret are locked in deadly combat. A powerful and intriguing thriller. "...plenty of psychodramatic conflict to keep you guessing..." What's On. Starring Lorraine Chase, Gary Turner and Abigail Fisher (Emmerdale), and Clair McGlinn (Coronation Street).
Tickets: £8.50 - £12.50 (concessions available)
Gordon Craig Stevenage June 5- 9
June Play Season: Dead Guilty Tuesday 5th - Saturday 9th June
STARRING LORRAINE CHASE FROM EMMERDALE The powerful and intriguing thriller written by Richard Harris. When John Haddrell dies of a heart attack at the wheel of his car, the woman at his side is not his wife Margaret but his lover, Julia. Recovering from the injuries she sustained in the ensuing crash, Julia is visited by Margaret, who apparently knows nothing of the affair. Events take a sinister turn when Margaret begins to encroach on Julia's life, engineering Julia's dismissal of her home help, Gary, and her estrangement from her councillor, Anne. Left alone in the house together, Julias and Margaret are locked in deadly combat.
Tickets:
Tues - Sat 7.45pm £16.50, £14.50, £11.50
Thurs and Sat Mat 2.30pm £12.50
Tues - Thurs Evening; concs £1.50 off, Groups £2.00 off
Tues and Weds: F Half Price
Mat: F £3.00 off
FRIENDS FIRST NIGHT PARTY ON TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY IS A SIGNED PERFORMANCE
http://www.stevenage-leisure.co.uk/CentrenbspLocator/StevenageArtsLeisureCentre/GordonCraigTheatre/WhatsOn/WhatsOnEvent/tabid/387/eventid/275/Default.aspx
Theatre Royal Glasgow August 13-18
Dead Guilty
A star cast led by Lorraine Chase present this powerful and intriguing thriller by Richard Harris.
Lorraine Chase was most recently on our television screens as Steph Stokes in Emmerdale, she is joined by Clare McGlinn (Coronation Street, Life On Mars), and Ex-Emmerdale actors Gary Turner and Abigail Fisher.
When John Haddrell dies of a heart attack at the wheel of his car, the woman at his side is not his wife, Margaret, but his mistress, Julia. Whilst recovering from the crash, Julia is visited by Margaret who appears to know nothing of the affair. But events take a sinister turn as Margaret slowly encroaches on Julia’s life engineering the dismissal of her home help, Gary, and counsellor, Anne.
With the situation engineered so the pair are left alone in Julia’s house, the two woman are locked in deadly combat.
“Harris … reels in his victims with a satisfying flourish” Sunday Times
Fri & Sat Eves: £13.50, £17.50, £19.50
Wed & Sat Mats: £13.50 all seats (no discounts apply)
Discounts
- Over 60s - £1.50 off
- Friends of the Devonshire Park - 25% off opening night
- Groups - 10+ 1 ticket free
- Children - £6.00 all seats
- People With Disabilities - £1.50 off
- Students - £6.00 all seats
- Unemployed - £1.50 off
Title: Dead Guilty
Start Date: Monday - 02/07/2007
End Date: Saturday - 07/07/2007
Time: Mon Sat at 7.30pm, Matinees: Thurs & Sat at 2.30pm
Type of Production: Plays - Drama
by Richard Harris
IAN DICKENS PRODUCTIONS are proud to present a national tour of the powerful and intriguing thriller DEAD GUILTY led by LORRAINE CHASE has starred as Steph Stokes in Emmerdale for over five years. She is joined by Clare McGlinn who played Charlie Ramsden in Coronation Street and has recently appeared in Life on Mars II and Emmerdale heartthrob GARY TURNER, the sexy chef who made hearts flutter as Carloz Diaz and another ex-Emmerdale actress, ABIGAIL FISHER (Siobhan Marsden).
When John Haddrell dies of a heart attack at the wheel of his car, the woman at his side is not his wife, Margaret, but his lover, Julia.
Recovering from the injuries she sustained in the ensuing crash, Julia is visited by Margaret, who apparently knows nothing of the affair.
Events take a sinister turn when Margaret begins to encroach on Julia’s life, engineering Julia’s dismissal of her home help, Gary, and her councellor, Anne. Left alone in the house together, Julia and Margaret are locked in deadly combat.
‘…Harris reels in his victims with a satisfying flourish…’
Sunday Times ... ‘…plenty of pscho-dramatic conflict to keep you guessing…’
What’s On .... The production is brought to you by the company who have presented some of the most critically acclaimed touring productions in recent years, such as Signpost to Murder, September Tide and The Ghost Train.
Seats: Mon-Thurs at 7.30pm & Matinees: £17.00, £15.00, £12.00
Senior Citizens/Child/Student/ES40/L.I.Adv: £12.00 all seats
Fri & Sat 7.30pm: £18.50, £16.50, £13.00 (no concessions)
Group Discounts: 20% for groups of 20 or more, 10% for groups of 10-19, 5% for groups of 5-9
Dead Guilty:
Tue 26 Jun - Sat 30 Jun 2007
Clare McGlinn, Gary Turner
From 7:30pm. Matinee 2:00pm Thu
Price: £16.00 - £11.00
Street star joins Strictly
November 28, 2006
YET another Coronation Street star is set to appear in ITV1 drama
Strictly Confidential.
Clare McGlinn - Matt Ramsden's boozed-up wife Charlie - makes a guest
appearance in the show which also stars Suranne Jones, who played
Karen MacDonald, as Linda, an ex-copper turned sex therapist.
Former Rovers Return barmaid Eva Pope, best-known for her portrayal of
two-timing Tanya Pooley, also features as Linda's ex-girlfriend Angie.
And Nikki Sanderson (Corrie's Candice Stowe) has already appeared in
the steamy six-parter.
And it's like a Weatherfield reunion with Tracy Brabin (Tricia
Armstrong) starring as Nikki's on-screen mother.
But EastEnders fans should also be on the look out for Ray Panthaki,
who played Ronny Ferreira in the BBC1 soap.
Strictly Confidential is on Thursday at 9pm on ITV1
UK Actress from Coronation Street soap. "I'm 5ft 7ins." said in 2001, Mirror.
Torun Film Festival in Poland on the 20th October.
Thanks for your interest.
FAQ = Faisal A. Qureshi ( Frequently Asked Question )
E-mail from Gary Beckitt Wakefield
Can Leciester Short Film Festival on the 29th October
Manchester’s ground-breaking 24:7 fringe theatre festival was back in townthis July, with an exciting array of one-hour plays, written and performed bytalented individuals based right here in the North West.
The brainchild of Manchester actors David Slack and Amanda Hennessy, theweek-long festival featured work from both new and established writers, with105 performances, involving 150 people, taking place in non-theatre venuesacross the city
David Slack explained, “Manchester has always had a proud tradition forheralding the new and embracing different ways of looking at things. We’rethe birthplace of the industrial revolution, the original modern city. From thelaunch of repertory theatre here in Manchester in the early 1900s, right throughto the Madchester music explosion in the 1980s, there’s a creative force andan enthusiasm about Manchester that’s infectious.”
The launch party was held at the Circle Club in Manchester, with gueststreated to snippets from the plays. In true theatre tradition, popcorn, nachosand chips were served up along with the cocktails
Slices Of Mango #3 (adv 12a) /
Bite The Mango
Cubby Brocolli - NMPFT
National Museum Of Photography Film & Television
Bradford
BD1 1NQ
TELEPHONE :
0870 70 10 200
WWW :
http://www.nmpft.org.uk/film/home.asp
click here
DATE :
24 September 2006
DOORS :
11.45am
LOCATION :
Bradford
COST :
£5/£3.30
EVENT TYPE :
Film / Festivals
TRAIN INFO :
http://www.nmpft.org.uk/visitor/map.asp
A Ticket Too Far
Dir. Paul Monaghan GB 2005 13 mins 50 secs (adv U)
Joe Armstrong, Mark Gatiss, Alun Armstrong, Nabil Elouahabi, Giuseppe Circelli
Incurring his father's anger, Ray wrestles with his conscience as he spends his first day employed in that most loathed of jobs:traffic warden.
atickettoofar@gmail.com
Used
Dir. Mehul Desai GB 2005 3 mins (adv U)
Roger Balfour, Tabitha Ellis
What happens to an old pair of shoes after they have been discarded is the focus of this touching story.mahuldesai_uk@hotmail.com
Poker Joker
Dir. Tan Sanger GB 2006 9 mins 20 secs (adv 12A)
Jonathan Rhodes, Cassandra French Stefan is about to embark on the biggest gamble of his life and
soon discovers he is out of his depth.
Tonight
Dir. Mehul Desai GB 2006 3 mins (adv 12A)
Waleed Akhtar, Bally Sethi
Celebrating his 18th birthday with his family in a restaurant, Amish anticipates the present he has planned for himself in the evening.
Crossed Lines
Dir. Raza Mallal GB 2006 10 mins 20 secs (adv 12A)
Laura Richmond, Nicola Bertram, David Parish, Sara Benjamin, Sue Wilcox
A hysterical wife who believes her husband is having an affair with a work colleague, phones a friend to discuss her suspicions, but things take an unexpected turn for him.
filmmakers@ntlworld.com
The Applicant
Dir. Faisal A. Qureshi GB 2006 5 mins 20 secs (adv 12A)
Parvez Qadir, Clare McGlinn, Ash Tandon
Attending a vague job interview, Eddie Ahmed is faced with an unusual test. Will he take it?
http://shootingpeople.org/cards/faq
http://ukscreen.com/crew/faq
The Kiss
Dir. Biyi Bandele GB 2006 6 mins (adv U)
Nabil Elouahabi, Rosie Fellner, Brahim Salek
A seemingly uneventful fare to a cemetery entwines a London taxi driver in a couple's final farewell.
http://www.piperfilms.co.uk
Guns, Thums and Movie Masala
Dir. Raza Mallal GB 2005 20 mins (adv 12A)
Zahir Daji, Liz Kemp, Kamran Akhtar, Ikran Elahi
A short comedy of a petty thief who resells the same stolen VCR to random characters who take their movie influences a little too far.
filmmakers@ntlworld.com
We Three
Dir. Matt Bloom GB 2006 8 mins (adv U)
Amirra Ardulla, Joseph Marcell
Six-year-old Amirra is trying to write the perfect fairytale. Whilst she is influenced by her father, a policeman, her stories are also home to an
eccentric imaginary friend who loves nothing more than eating apples.
huricfilms@aol.com
Can anyone make sence of this ?
On the Beat
Showing as part of The North in Lights
- 1hr 20m
Synopsis
2. Cops (Scr Jimmy Gardner BBC tx 19.10.98 Katy Cavanaugh, John Henshaw, Claire McGlinn) Made by Tony Garnett’s World Productions, Cops is a gritty and often controversial warts n’all portrait of police officers at work and at play as modernising tactics encounter entrenched attitudes. + 1. Bulman (ITV tx 5.6.85; Ep 1) A spin-off from the hugely popular police series STRANGERS, BULMAN is the story of a cop who becomes a private investigator operating out of his antiques shop (Chorlton’s Beech Road standing in for London).
LAST SEEN This film was last shown at Cornerhouse on Thu 15 Aug 2002
THE bottles of Old Spice and Hai Karate aftershave are still in Gene’s office and a jar of pickled eggs sits behind the bar of The Railway Arms.
Earlier this week I spent a day on set in Manchester during filming for the second series of BBC1’s Life on Mars – the best drama on TV last year by some distance. And that includes Bleak House. The main interviews with cast and crew have to be held back until nearer transmission. But from what I saw and heard, fans of the show won’t be disappointed when it returns early next year. Even the most avid student of Life on Mars should be satisfied. It’s been hot in the city for the TV team this summer. The heatwave has caused problems for Philip Glenister, who plays Det Chief Insp Gene Hunt in a big camel coat. “It’s been pretty nightmarish,” he told me. But there’s another reason why the Gene Genie has been getting hot under the collar while making the second series of the hit drama set in 1973. One of the eight new episodes sees three former Coronation Street actresses guest starring in a sizzling slice of seventies life, with a story including scenes at a swingers’ party.
Blackpool star Georgia Taylor, who was Corrie’s Toyah Battersby, plays a local beauty rep in the plot which also involves Clare McGlinn, recently seen again as Matt Ramsden’s wife Charlie.
And Eva Pope, still remembered as Weatherfield’s Tanya Pooley, co-stars alongside Phil in what promises to be another classic Life on Mars moment. With the end of filming now in sight, there’s huge anticpation among fans about the contents of the new series There’s also feverish speculation about the fate of modern day detective Sam Tyler, played by John Simm, mysteriously transported back to the seventies after an accident beside the Mancunian Way. Life on Mars can be watched on several levels, from straight Back To The Future meets The Sweeney crime drama to a much deeper viewing experience, with possible clues to what is happening to Sam scattered in each episode. Is Sam in a coma imagining the whole thing, or is he really back living in 1973? Several sites have sprung up on the web to discuss the series and everything surrounding it, including The Railway Arms and Life in 1973. My lips must remain sealed for now, but other storylines in the second series include a spate of bombings in the city, which Gene immediately blames on the IRA.
Here's an excellent blog bringing news of a hot new storyline in Life on Mars for Georgia Taylor, Clare McGinn and Eva Pope - that's Toyah Battersby, Charlie Ramsden and Tanya Pooley to me and you. Now I am a very delicate character and really can't say much more than that. But judging by the report, their scenes could also feature car keys being thrown into the mix and a bit of a merry-go-round of partners. corrieblog.tv
On GMTV's LK Today Monday, July 17, 2006 
Stephen Beckitt said to Lorraine (Can ye see mah growler?) Kelly
That his ( Dr Matt Ramsden's) current wife could not have children and the other one (Charlie Ramsden ..A.K.A Clare McGlinn did not want them). This is why he returned for his biological son Josh.
Howzat as stars bat for charity fundraiser
STARS of a popular television soap came to Chester to pit themselves against a city XI in a charity cricket match.
The match on Sunday between actors from ITV soap Emmerdale and Chester
County Officers Cricket Club, at their ground in Upton, ended in a
draw.The event, which saw nearly 300 people come to watch throughout the
day, managed to raise £5,000 for Leukaemia Research.
Among the actors who made the trip over from Yorkshire were Chris Chittell,
who plays Eric Pollard, and Haley Tamaddon, who plays Deliah Dingle. Also Clare
McGlinn, who played
Charlie Ramsden in Coronation Street, appeared as a guest for the county
officers team.
The match was organised by Richard Wright, whose father died after a
battle with leukaemia two years ago.Mr Wright, 52, says he has been
working hard on the project since last October to raise as much money as
possible for a cause which is so close to his heart His father, also
Richard, died from the illness aged 72. A keen sportsman, he spent about
three years of his life playing for Chester City as a goalkeeper.
His son said: “This all started after my father passed away and I
decided I wanted to raise as much money as I could for Leukaemia Research.
“It was a great day. The Emmerdale lot were fantastic.”
Chester County Officers XI v Emmerdale ITV XI
|
Chester County Officers are hosting a cricket match against the all-star cast of Emmerdale on the 11th of June this year to raise money for the charity Leukaemia Research - a charity supported by Chris Chittell (who plays the character Eric Pollard).
The Emmerdale side should include the characters Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell), Ashley the Vicar (John Middleton), Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock), Stephanie Stokes (Lorraine Chase) and the village Romeo Rodney Blackstock (Patrick Mower).
Depending on the filming schedule, additional Emmerdale players may also include Frasure Hines (Joe Sugden), Ken Farrington (Tom King), Dale Meeks (Simon Meredith) and Haley Tamaddon (Deliah Dingle).
Also starring as guest players for the Emmerdale XI team are the ex footballers Dixie McNeil (Wrexham player/Team Manager) & Leighton James (, Burnley & Wales).
We have also secured the services of the actress Clare McGlinn to play for Chester County Officers. Clare is perhaps most widely recognised for her on-screen roles as 'Charlie Ramsden' in Coronation Street, and the fearless strident 'PC Natalie Metcalfe' in the Bafta award winning drama series The Cops
|
Details of the Event
The match will take place at the County Officers ground on Sunday 11th June 2006 and will commence at 2.00pm.
At the event will be bouncy castles (for the young at heart), catering trucks, an ice cream stall and also the bar will be open all afternoon. Admission is free, but please make a donation on the day. There will also be a Memorabilia Auction taking place during the tea interval at around 4.15 pm.
The proceeds from admission charges, raffles and auction will go towards supporting the chosen charity. In addition, all of the Chester County Officers players will be donating £10 along with their match fees to this charity & the Chester County Officers Sports Club will be donating £500.
Chester County Officers CC would like to thank the following companies who have donated so generously:
-
Abbey National PLC
-
Allington Hughes Solicitors (Wrexham)
-
Anglo Nordisk
-
Baker & Tilley (Chester)
-
Barrington Sports (Knutsford)
-
Bristol-Myers Squibb
-
Cains Brewery (Liverpool)
-
Carl & Axel BBQ Chefs
-
Chelma Graphics
-
Chester Racecourse Company
-
Domino's Pizza
-
Express Signs (Saltney)
-
F Roberts Bakery (Northwich)
-
Farm Foods
-
Fusion Cricket (Crewe)
-
Gray Nichols Cricket
-
Hopscotch Private Day Nursery (Chester)
-
ICI UK
-
Jackson-Stops & Staff (Chester)
-
Kemira Grow-How
-
Lancashire CCC
-
Liverpool Victoria Bourmouth
-
Lords Taverners CC.
-
Makro Plc (Queensferry)
-
Mark Fearon (Chester County Sports Club)
-
Marks & Spencer (Chester)
-
McDonalds
-
MFI (Chester)
-
Multisol Ltd (Nantwich)
-
Novo Nordisk (Crawley)
-
Parfett & Co Chartered Accountants
-
Reckitt & Benckiser UK
-
Sainsbury's PLC
-
Shell UK
-
Snugbury's Ice Cream
-
Tescos (Chester)
-
The Silver Spice Tea Ladies Team
-
Truprint UK
-
Warrington Wolves RLFC
-
Warwick International Ltd
-
Wilkinsons Plc
-
Wynnstay Fuels (Waverton)
-
Yorkshire Bank
-
ZEE Sports (Middlesex)
Special thanks go to Richard Wright for the great effort he has put into organising this event for a worthwhile charity.
|
The Applicant
The Applicant -
2006, Writer/Director
Form: Short, Running time: 5 mins, Format: 35mm, Company: Access Moving
Image/Short Circuit/Screen Yorkshire
"Stars Parvez Qadir ("Rome", "All or Nothing")
and Clare McGlinn ("The Cops", "Coronation Street")
with Slamdance award winning DoP Philip Robertson ("Frozen")
behind the camera. "Eddie" Ahmed is waiting to be interviewed ,
the only problem is that no one's telling him what the job actually is."
The Applicant
First, are you our sort of a person?
Do you wear
A glass eye, false teeth or a crutch,
A brace or a hook,
Rubber breasts or a rubber crotch,
Stitches to show something's missing?
No, no? Then
How can we give you a thing?
Stop crying.
Open your hand.
Empty? Empty. Here is a hand
To fill it and willing
To bring teacups and roll away headaches
And do whatever you tell it.
Will you marry it?
It is guaranteed
To thumb shut your eyes at the end
And dissolve of sorrow.
We make new stock from the salt.
I notice you are stark naked.
How about this suit -
Black and stiff, but not a bad fit.
Will you marry it?
It is waterproof, shatterproof, proof
Against fire and bombs through the roof.
Believe me, they'll bury you in it.
Now your head, excuse me, is empty.
I have the ticket for that.
Come here, sweetie, out of the closet.
Well, what do you think of that?
Naked as paper to start
But in twenty-five years she'll be
silver,
In fifty, gold.
A living doll, everywhere you look.
It can sew, it can cook,
It can talk, talk, talk.
It works, there is nothing wrong with
it.
You have a hole, it's a poultice.
You have an eye, it's an image.
My boy, it's your last resort.
Will you marry it, marry it, marry it.
| 'He wants Josh back' |
| Weds 1st Mar 2006 |
 |
| Matt Ramsden made a
dramatic return to the Street on Monday evening and actor Stephen
Beckett insists the doctor won’t leave until he has Josh. Matt of course left the Street in disgrace after having an affair with Ashley’s wife, Maxine, and getting her pregnant while simultaneously treating her and Ashley for infertility. Now he has a new wife and is desperate to have children so has returned to the Street to collect his son and put his family in order. “He absolutely definitely wants Josh back, but he doesn’t tell Ashley that first of all,” Stephen reveals. “He is a bit shifty to begin with really. This time he has gone into the situation a bit more controlled and will be more cunning. “He is much more calculated in his plans. He is more middle class and is wielding more legal and financial clout.” Ashley of course rebuffs any attempts Matt makes to have contact with Josh, but the doctor expected such a reaction and knows that Ashley won’t be able to ignore him forever.” “At the end of the day this boy is his son,” Stephen says. “He thinks that Joshua has a right to be with his real father. It’s very emotional when he sees him. I think it’s heart wrenching.” Heart-wrenching it will be if Ashley and Claire lose their son, we don’t think we could bear it here at ITV Soaps! Read Stephen's full interview here
|
| Is
he still with Charlie ( Clare
McGlinn) ? He is divorced from his first wife Charlie ( Clare McGlinn) , and I believe he has got a new partner. Matt has decided that the time has come to see Josh . It now appears extremely unlikely Charlie Ramsden ( Clare McGlinn) will be returning to Coronation Street . |
| Ashley's not Joshing |
| Weds 22nd Feb 2006 |
 |
| This
article does not mention how long the Dr Matt Ramsden character will
stay in Coronation Street or whether his on screen wife
Charlie will turn up at some stage (Will/Would she still
be Played by
Clare McGlinn
?
)
Later this week Ashley’s world
will turn upside down when he receives a letter from Dr Matt Ramsden. |
To be up
dated stayed tooned
Coronation Street's Charlie Ramsden on being
independent
24 August 2001 by Nina Miyskow
SOAP star Clare McGlinn is a relative newcomer to Coronation Street, but already she has made a big impact. As Charlie, the schoolteacher wife of Matt Ramsden, the dishy doctor, she is very much her own woman. She plays an increasingly important role in the top ITV soap (screened Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm).
Clare, who played PC Natalie in three series of The Cops, came to acting relatively late. She lives in Manchester with her sister. We met there, at the Granada studios. Intelligent and academic, she has the enviable shape of a natural athlete. And a heart of gold.
I'm a lucky person. Yeah, I'm lucky. I've never had to worry about my weight. Ever, I think hyper-activity is the answer. And a high metabolism. I've always been sporty, see, I've always been doing stuff. Always on the go, that's me. I'm agile, quite athletic. And fit. Three years ago, I did the New York marathon for charity. Stupidity, or what? I got approached by the MS Society, I'd just got The Cops.
I'd had a lot of good luck come into my life, so I thought, "Well, this is a good way to channel it back". I said, "Yes". Then I had to ask how far a marathon was! I didn't do any major training. I ran four miles a day, joined a gym, and started swimming to get my lungs stronger. But the furthest I ran before I did it was 13 miles. On my own round Salford. When I got to New York, it was the first time I'd been there, it was such a buzz. Streets lined with people, like running through a film set. Ah, that kept me going. And I wanted to go to the loo. That's why I carried on! I finished in four and a half hours. Such a feeling of achievement.
So I've never had a weight problem. You have to pay at my gym to weigh yourself, and I never have 40p on me. The last time, I was about 9 and a half stone. I'm 5ft 7ins. Tall? Not when your husband on the Street is 6ft 4ins! You should see us, me on tiptoe.I don't diet, but I do a dietary detox once a year for a couple of weeks. I'm really into nutrition being the new medicine. It always has been, we just forgot it for a while. And I read up a lot. I did a degree in classics and Latin, and I like to keep the brain muscle working as well.
Health really interests me. If I hadn't been an actress, I'd have been a doctor or a nurse. When I first graduated, I worked with adults with special needs, did drama with physically disabled children. And that gives you an awareness of medical issues. But I've never been aware of size and weight. But body awareness, yes.
I've got a birthmark on my leg, you see. Look, it's this huge dark patch on my right leg. On the inside below the knee. It's big, isn't it? About five inches long. For years I used to wear trousers. Or, if I did wear a skirt, when I came into a room, I'd actually stand so that my left leg was showing more. Or walk on the side of the road where my right leg was facing inwards. It becomes a habit. A response to people shouting at you when you're a kid. "Oi, dirt legs!" they used to shout. But I made a decision when I was 16. I'm 31, now. I thought, "Some people haven't even got limbs, Clare".
I used to help out in a Wigan hospice at weekends, part of my Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme. I was nursing somebody with scarred arms and legs, severe burns. She had cancer. Her whole emphasis had been her burns. But when she got the cancer, it just transferred. She started to celebrate life. And I thought, "People have bigger issues. Bigger problems". It put it into perspective.
And it comes full circle. Recently I was in Sainsbury's in Salford, and a kiddy comes running down the aisle and points at my leg and I'm thinking. "Oh!" He shouts, "Mummy, mummy!" And you could see this mother breaking into sweat. Mums are always aware of children shouting things out like, "That lady's fat". It's the mother that gets embarrassed. And then he goes, "That lady's got a lovely big beauty spot on her leg!" Beauty spot! That's a lovely way of thinking of it. I thought, "I'll take that on board".
I'm fine about it now - as you can see I'm wearing shorts today - although it's ongoing. On photo shoots, photographers say, "Do you want to cover that up?" But now I let it be somebody else's embarrassment. Not my own. I was always fit. I used to play netball even though I was quite small. It just taught me to jump higher. I ended up being the captain of the team, the smallest one on it. A bit of a show-off.
I'm the third of four children. Irish family, strong work ethic. Kind of get out there and do your best. It was chaotic, mad. All of us energetic. Growing up in Wigan, I was a natural born mimic, I loved making people laugh. When I was nine, I used to put plays on in the back garden. My mum, who's a very strong woman - one of the first female bus drivers in Wigan - always insisted I kept up the academic side. And I didn't do boyfriends. Guys were mates. I went to Leeds University, and then started by directing youth theatre at Bradford Playhouse, working with disturbed teenagers. I had kids that had come from prostitution, drug abuse, domestic violence.
And then it just took its toll on me. I got ill. Exhaustion. I just thought, "I can't do this any more". I gave in my notice, and lived in Paris for six months. Worked as a waitress, then blagged my way into being stage manager in a theatre. It was quite late when I decided to be an actress. I was 27 when I thought, "I want to have a go at this". The Cops was my first main role, and I got Corrie nine months ago. I was thrilled.
Charlie is Miss Dynamic. Miss multi-layered. To come in the Street and play a lady with so many different levels, is an honour. I'm very fortunate being fed more juicy story lines. Matt, her husband, and Maxine have an illicit night together. Maxine gets pregnant, but whether or not it's his remains to be seen.
Charlie's been raped in the past, and she was also adopted, and she traces down her mother. She doesn't want a child, and the response it provokes! Walking around supermarkets, people go, "Give him a baby. Give him a baby, Charlie! You're his wife."
I'm at my peak now, a good age for women. But it's tough because I'm single. Again. You get to meet some right strange men. And it's true what they say: "The good ones have all been taken. Or they're coming out to play with all their baggage". I think, "Oh my God, what's this one going to tell me? That he's got 15 children?" And I don't do actors. I see so much of it around me, and the strike rate is very poor. The actual staying together. I'm a bit Bridget Jones, actually. An incurable romantic. I've seen the film three times, I've even got the CD. The difference is that I feel it's out of choice. My last relationship finished two years ago, and yes, I've had my heart broken, but I'm not ready to settle down with anybody yet. I'm a terrible flirt.
And when you meet another good flirt, you can have a great night. It just means you don't have to wake up and wash their socks for them. My sister lives with me, so we've got a great girlie life. If I could have a hubby that lived down the road, that would be perfect. Came round occasionally. For servicing! You can get guys, get the occasional whatever. And I have been dating. But I don't just give it away too easily, to anyone.
This weekend? Possibly, there's somebody on the horizon. It's been going on a long time. But nothing's happened. It might - if he's lucky! It's been a long-term telephone, emaily kind of thing. We meet and do stuff, but he travels a lot. So far, it's just been flirting, and we're taking our time. He's very respectful, a gentleman. Not a bullshitter. Very romantic, but very straight. So we'll see. Oh dear, I've gone all red. What am I like?
I feel quite balanced at the moment. Very happy. The summer, the weather, good company, good people. Just signed a big contract with the Street. A bit of security for another year. And I'm learning. I've got good health, a good family, a good life. When I helped out in the hospice, it made me realise the inevitability of death, but that life is ongoing. I carry the spirits with me. My dad passed away six years ago and grief still hits you, you still burst into tears, still get floods.
But I have no regrets. He died over two years, so he had a lot of time to talk things through. People say, "He never saw you on TV". But I think he did. And he's still watching and I hope he'd be proud of me. I'm here to help my mum now. Because all this good fortune is there to share. Like him, I believe in following your dreams. As a kid I used to see Granada. Going to see my grandparents in Stockport, I used to pass here on the train. Used to think, "One day, One day..." And it was a little dream. Well, now it's come true.
MY BIGGEST DOWNFALL
LIQUORICE. I've got a real thing for it. I love the Panda bars, they're
delicious. They're what I always have, natural liquorice. I have a bar a
day, at least. Either those, or Liquorice Allsorts. It's my mum that's got
me into them, and my gran. When I visit, they're always on a shelf. When
we've got through the chocolate - oh yes, I've got a sweet tooth -
watching Corrie, or whatever, the Allsorts are next. We finish the lot.
MY FAVOURITE DRINK
CHAMPAGNE. What kind? Free! My consumption has increased quite adequately
since I started on the Street. I love how giddy it makes me feel, I love
the fizz. I keep a bottle in the fridge these days. Last Friday night my
sister had a bottle of fizzy wine open, on the patio. She'd just got
promoted. We got through that and I said, "Shall we hit the
champagne?" Fantastic. In bed by ten, totally sozzled.
MY EXERCISE REGIME
I'VE got two Alsatians, and I walk them every day. Then I either run - 40
minutes - or swim. Being a Pisces, we love our swimming. I bike in and out
of work, half an hour each way, I've just started that this week. Ironic!
I've just bought the car of my dreams, a Mercedes hard top convertible.
But I've been asked to climb Kilimanjaro in February, for the Bobby Moore
breast and bowel cancer charity. It'll be a dream.
MY CLOSET SECRETS
I'M a sales-a-holic. I can't pay full price for anything. But when I go
into sales, I can go silly. I used to drive the whole family mad, going,
"Should have been... and I got it for". I'm the worst.
Justifying it. Here I am in my scrags, but I love dressing up when I go
out. I used to be quite a tomboy, and now I've gone very feminine. I like
to wear a frock when I go out to dinner. I've embraced womanhood.
MY HEALTH REGIME
I'VE never smoked, and I take a load of vitamins. A Centrium Multivit,
Evening Primose Oil, Gingko Biloba and a vitamin C. Every morning I have
fresh lemon in hot water with honey, for the glucose kick. And I've just
got into juicing, it's great. It just helped me get rid of a really bad
cold. Then red wine's supposed to be good for you, isn't it? I used to go
out with a French guy, and it was a great excuse to drink it.
MY DETOX DIET
IT'S great if you're stressed, haven't been eating properly. I cut out
wheat and caffeine and dairy products, have no alcohol, and for three days
you get an almighty headache. The toxins coming out. Then all of a sudden,
your energy turns round. You're not eating less, but more. Your skin and
hair and nails go strong, your teeth and eyes go whiter. You're meant to
do 28 days, and I've only ever lasted 14. But it's worth it
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