Shelley King, who plays Yasmeen Nazir on Coronation Street, has revealed she was diagnosed with autism at the age of 67. The 68-year-old actress appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain to discuss how the condition affects her work and daily life.
King explained that she finds script changes and unexpected plot twists difficult to adapt to. 'In Coronation Street, things change all the time, if somebody goes ill you suddenly are doing their scenes,' she said. She also struggles with meeting new people, noting that it took her months to feel comfortable with her castmates when she joined the soap in 2014.
The actress first revealed she was being assessed for autism last year. 'I don't think 67 is too old, it's never too late,' she said at the time. 'It's been a great outpouring and it's making me less scared of my life.'
King believes her autism may have drawn her to acting. 'I always wanted to perform... if I sing, it makes me feel better. Most actors are damaged in some way,' she said. She credits her partner of 25 years, director Trilby James, with helping her become more tolerant and self-accepting.
