Where Is Coronation Street's Kirsty Actress Now 13 Years After Her Dramatic Exit?
Kirsty Soames remains etched in the memory of Coronation Street viewers as one of the soap's most notorious villains, having been sent to prison for her crimes over a decade ago. The character, portrayed by actress Natalie Gumede, left an indelible mark on the long-running ITV drama with her harrowing storyline involving the abuse of Tyrone Dobbs.
The Rise and Fall of Kirsty Soames on Coronation Street
Natalie Gumede first appeared as Kirsty Soames in 2011, introduced as the love interest for mechanic Tyrone Dobbs, played by Alan Halsall. Their relationship quickly developed, culminating in the birth of their daughter Ruby in 2012. However, the narrative took a dark and disturbing turn when Kirsty began subjecting Tyrone to systematic physical and emotional abuse, often erupting in violent rages.
The character's villainy reached its peak when Kirsty, a police officer, falsely accused Tyrone of abusing her, leading to his trial in 2013. In a dramatic courtroom confession, Kirsty admitted she was the perpetrator, clearing Tyrone of all charges while she was convicted and sentenced to prison. Before her incarceration, she nominated Tyrone for custody of Ruby, with Tyrone declaring he never wanted to see her again.
Kirsty's Legacy and Natalie Gumede's Career Evolution
Following her prison sentence, Kirsty was referenced on the soap in 2014 when she sent abusive texts to Tyrone after her release. In a 2021 storyline, Tyrone was informed that Kirsty had died from an aneurysm, discovered in her flat by a neighbour. The character's abusive past was recently mentioned again in connection with Todd Grimshaw's domestic abuse storyline.
Natalie Gumede's decision to leave Coronation Street was a significant career move. "It was really tough, but I was ready to leave," she explained. "I think it was a healthy time to go after such an intense storyline, but it's surprising how a place kind of creeps under your skin, and I don't think I could have wished to work with a better team so it did surprise me how emotional I was at leaving."
Natalie Gumede's Post-Coronation Street Career Success
Since departing the cobbles, Natalie Gumede has maintained a busy and varied acting career. In 2013, she competed on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. The pair achieved joint second place alongside Susanna Reid and Kevin Clifton, narrowly losing to winners Abbey Clancy and Aljaz Skorjanec.
Her television credits expanded significantly with roles in ITV's 2015 series Jekyll & Hyde, an appearance on Vera in 2019, and a recurring role in Netflix's Free Rein from 2017 to 2019. More recently, she starred in the 2022 Netflix holiday film Your Christmas or Mine? and its 2023 sequel, portraying the character Kaye Taylor.
At the premiere of Your Christmas or Mine?, Natalie expressed her enthusiasm for playing a lighter character after frequently being cast in darker roles. "Aunty Kaye is one of my most favourite characters I've ever played. I'm always sort of the dark, slightly miserable character, a bit cold a bit sinister," she revealed. "And so for the first time I could really just get my teeth into something where I could just be silly and have fun and I absolutely loved it."
Coronation Street continues to air Monday through Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, maintaining its position as one of Britain's most beloved television institutions.
