Coronation Street’s Katherine Kelly: My favourite photograph
KATHERINE Kelly, 30, has played Coronation Street’s irascible Becky for three years. Here, she tells Francine Cohen about her working-class background, and recalls a life-changing trip to the slums of India.
I was brought up with the idea of caring for others. My parents sponsored an Action Aid child and I remember me and my siblings wrapping gifts to send out to them.
As soon as I started earning some money in Coronation Street, I sponsored a child too.
When I got the chance to visit India around my 30th birthday, I leapt at it.
I can honestly say it was one of the most humbling and positive experiences of my life and I particularly love this photo because it shows what it was like, warts and all.
We’d landed just a few hours earlier and there we were in the heart of the Delhi slums.
It was exactly how I’d imagined it from all the images in the media – people literally living on top of each other, no running water or proper houses, but all these vivid colours too.
I’ve always loved children and would love to have my own one day although I’m single at the moment
The children were amazing. They were all so proud and happy with no resentment towards us whatsoever, they just wanted to give us a high five.
Family has always been a big thing for me, unlike my character, Becky, who was living rough until she was rescued by Hayley.
I’ve always loved children and would love to have my own one day although I’m single at the moment.
I’m the eldest of my siblings – my sister Grace is 10 years younger than me – so I was always the ‘mum’ and I could be very bossy when we were young.
I’d even dress the boys up as girls! I remember one day they wouldn’t talk to me because I was so bossy – a valuable lesson that I’ve always kept in mind.
My dad, John, was a poor Irish immigrant who went down the mines at 15.
Later, through hard work and determination, he trained as a nurse and we moved to Florida during the 1980s when there was a big demand for nurses there. He also did well investing in property.
He’s a working-class hero really. Both my parents taught me that the world is your oyster and that you can do anything.
They always said the world was a small place and their door would always be open, so go out and do what you want and have a go at everything.
Seeing the kids in Delhi, I couldn’t help but think about how different their childhoods were from mine and how much we take for granted.
Wherever we went, we were surrounded by children, smiling and saying ‘Hi’.
No one seemed to feel sorry for themselves and the children were so bright, lively and happy with such positive energy you forget their situation.
Then you realise a baby you thought was four months old is actually a year old. I’m sure if Becky went on the same trip she’d be smuggling the children home!”
For details on Action Aid go to www.actionaid.org.uk
