Helen Flanagan Criticises Corrie's Past Treatment of Teen Actors
Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has spoken out about her discomfort with storylines she filmed as a teenager, revealing that co-star Alison King once accused producers of "sexualising" her when she was just 16 years old.
Teenage Storylines and Retrospective Concerns
Flanagan, who played Rosie Webster on the long-running ITV soap from age nine until her departure, was 16 when her character became involved in an underage affair with teacher John Stape, later revealed as a serial killer. The storyline included bedroom scenes and what Flanagan describes as being expected to "parade about in my knickers like some mad nymphomaniac."
"Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, once kicked off in the green room, saying how disgusting it was that they were sexualising me when I was a young girl," Flanagan told The Mirror. "I didn't fully comprehend what she was talking about at the time. I do now. I get it."
The actress acknowledges that actor Graeme Hawley was "lovely" to work with but questions whether such storylines would be written today, particularly in the post-Me Too era. She recalls feeling "minging post-shoot" after certain scenes and contrasts this with her current theatre work, where she benefits from an intimacy coordinator.
Personal Empowerment and Professional Boundaries
Flanagan makes a clear distinction between her teenage experiences and her current approach to sexuality in her career. "I like to feel sexy. I like to feel empowered - and in control," she explains, noting her work with lingerie brands and conscious choice to post certain images.
"That's the difference," she emphasises. "I've turned up to some shoots which I didn't know would be so 'sexy', thinking it would be unprofessional to object and been in tears."
Personal Life and Family Challenges
The interview reveals significant personal challenges, including Flanagan's ongoing difficulties with ex-partner Scott Sinclair, father of her three children. The former footballer's decision to sell their family home has reportedly "broken her heart all over again."
"I worry about my future and my security," she admits. "I have to work constantly to make ends meet. He's the father of my kids, but their dad's a wealthy guy, you know?"
Flanagan also discusses her brief relationship with former boxer David Haye, whom she met on I'm A Celebrity, and firmly denies rumours of involvement in a throuple with Haye and his girlfriend.
Mental Health Journey and Recovery
A substantial portion of the interview focuses on Flanagan's mental health struggles, which led to her departure from Coronation Street. She has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
In January 2024, she experienced a "terrifying breakdown" following an adverse reaction to prescription medication, describing it as "the worst time that I've ever struggled with my mental health." The episode included psychosis, during which she believed she was being watched and filmed.
"It was really frightening - I thought my kids were going to be taken away," she recalls of that period.
Memoir and Moving Forward
Flanagan's debut book, Head & Heart: Break-ups, breakdowns and being Rosie, documents her journey through these challenges. She hopes it will help others struggling with similar issues, stating: "When you talk about mental health, it saves people's lives. And it makes you feel less on your own."
Now medication-free and focusing on healthy coping mechanisms including therapy and exercise, Flanagan reflects: "It feels like everything's coming together now. I've come a long way and I'm really proud of myself. Onwards and upwards."
Despite her criticisms of past storylines, Flanagan doesn't rule out returning to Coronation Street, describing herself as "a very normal, northern working-class girl" whose life was changed by the soap. She's currently focusing on her acting career without "any noise getting in the way" and expresses interest in television drama roles.
