Former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh has been awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the play 'Punch'. The accolade comes 12 years after her emotional exit from the soap, where she played beloved character Hayley Cropper.
The 2026 Olivier Awards, hosted by comedian Nick Mohammed, celebrated their 50th anniversary. 'Punch', which also won Best New Play, is based on the true story of Jacob Dunne, a teenager who killed a young man with a single punch and later transformed his life through restorative justice.
Hesmondhalgh, from Accrington, was flooded with messages of support from fellow actors and fans. Coronation Street star Harriet Bibby called her 'a legend', while EastEnders' Michelle Collins said the award was 'well deserved'. The actress played Hayley Cropper, Coronation Street's first transgender character, from 1998 to 2014.
Her portrayal of Hayley, who married Roy Cropper and later died from pancreatic cancer in a 'right to die' storyline, remains one of the soap's most memorable. Hesmondhalgh's husband, Ian Kershaw, is a scriptwriter and former actor who also works on Coronation Street.
