Faye Brookes, who became a household name as Kate Connor on Coronation Street, has opened up about her life since leaving the soap, her marriage to fellow actor Iwan Lewis, and the possibility of returning to Weatherfield.
Life After Corrie
Three years after her fairy-tale wedding, the Trafford-born actress is enjoying life in the Cotswolds. She joined Coronation Street in 2015 and left in 2019, but has been busy on stage ever since.
The 38-year-old, married to Iwan Lewis, spoke about their relationship, calling it "unbreakable." She also addressed the challenge of taking on a role made famous by Cher in the musical Burlesque.
Marriage and Support
Faye married theatre performer Iwan in 2023. They first met while co-starring in the 2012 tour of Legally Blonde. She says he inspires her: "Iwan is always levelling up, and that inspires me. We’re very supportive of each other’s careers."
She describes their bond: "There’s a respect in our relationship that is just unbreakable. Iwan is my biggest cheerleader. I thank my lucky stars that I’ve got a man like him in my corner."
Fame and Responsibility
Before Corrie, Faye had a stage career, but she took the "ultimate risk" by turning down theatre work to pursue TV. It paid off, and she became a fan favourite, especially when her character Kate had a relationship with Rana Habeeb.
She said: "I was suddenly this household name, people knew who I was. I wasn’t Faye any more, I was being called Kate! And I relished it." She credits her family for keeping her grounded: "It was like a whirlwind. I think I took it in my stride, but that’s down to my family as well, being so normal and calling me out if I was ever a diva."
She added: "I had a responsibility."
Potential Return
On screen, Kate left Weatherfield after Rana's tragic death. Faye says she would consider returning, but on one condition: "It’s got to be worth it, because I’ve had so much joy playing other characters on stage that have really taught me something."
Burlesque the Musical
Faye is now starring as Tess in the UK tour of Burlesque the Musical, based on the 2010 film with Cher. She relates to the role: "Tess has been grinding away and surviving for years in this club, and that is something I can absolutely relate to."
She acknowledges Cher's iconic performance but doesn't try to imitate it: "I can never be Cher, but the fact that I get to play a role that she played is pretty fantastic."
She loves the show's energy: "The stage version has even more diamonds, more numbers and more glitter!"
Faye hopes the story resonates with women and enjoys seeing audiences: "You’re getting people of all shapes and sizes dancing their hearts out for a couple of hours and singing along to incredible songs. It’s a beautiful thing."
