Emma Matthews, an actress familiar to Coronation Street viewers, is heading back to Weatherfield in a brand new role, nine years after her last appearance.
Previous Roles on the Cobbles
Emma previously appeared intermittently as a nurse at Weatherfield General Hospital, with episodes in 2012, 2013, and 2015. She later took on a more substantial part as Fiona Crawley, a social worker dealing with Abi Webster's children, Charlie and Lexi Franklin, in two episodes in October 2017.
ITV has kept quiet on what Emma's new role will be, how long it will run, or which storylines it could impact.
Career Highlights
Emma is currently starring in David Walliams' Billionaire Boy at the Garrick Theatre in the West End. Her theatre career includes Cabaret, Oh What A Bloody Circus, The Hired Man, Stepping Out, and Gangsta Granny. On television, she has appeared in Prisoners Wives, Casualty, Trying Again, Doctors, and The Bay.
Beyond acting, Emma runs a stage school in Bury, which she opened in 2013. She told the Bury Times: 'Opening another stage school was something I had always wanted to do and moving back to the area gave me that opportunity. We have lots of contacts in the industry including casting directors, agencies and TV and film companies, so many of the children we work with end up getting professional work'.
Emma is also pursuing a Masters qualification in Theatre Directing. She recently directed an adaptation of Beautiful Thing, a play by Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey, for her final practical assessment.
Other Returning Actors
Emma isn't the only multi-character actor back in Weatherfield. Elizabeth Rider recently resurfaced as Sadie, the mum of Asha Alahan's new love interest Sienna Milburn. Sadie has dementia, which has shaken Debbie Webster and her husband Ronnie Bailey, who see her as a sobering look into the future.
Emma first appeared on the cobbles 20 years ago in 2006 as Kathleen Gutteridge, the biological mum of Ashley Peacock, who she abandoned at birth. She later appeared as Genna, a social worker involved in Les Battersby-Brown adopting his step-son Chesney.
Speaking to The Sun after her return was announced, a source said: 'Corrie bosses are delighted to have tempted Elizabeth for a short stint on the cobbles. She's a legendary actress with a huge amount of talent and everyone's thrilled she's here.'
