Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor has revealed that she would portray her character's breast cancer storyline "very differently" today, having personally experienced the disease. The 62-year-old actress, who has played Sally Metcalfe on the ITV soap since 1986, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 46.
A New Perspective
Dynevor learned of her own condition on the same day she filmed a scene where her on-screen character shared her diagnosis with her husband. Speaking to Prima magazine, she explained that her real-life experience has given her a new perspective on how she approached the narrative.
She said: "I think there are moments in the show that, like the breast cancer storyline, which, if I went back, I think I would have done very differently. In the sense that because I got it myself, I realised what it was like to go through breast cancer and how much you hide your pain from people you love."
She added: "I think I didn't play it that way. I played it that Sally was very emotional and upset, and I think that now I would have gone back and played it completely differently because real-life experiences make you go, 'Ah, I shouldn't have done that, I shouldn't have done this'."
Gratitude and Reflection
Reflecting on her return to work after six months off, Dynevor said: "The first day when I came back after having six months off… I felt incredibly emotional and so grateful that… I'd not taken it for granted at all, but to go away and think, 'Will I ever go back?' and then to be doing what you enjoy doing, you're just so grateful for having that opportunity again."
Dynevor described her role as the "perfect job" and admitted she never in a "million years" thought she would remain on the famous cobbles for four decades.
She said: "I just thought it was going to be a year at the most, but I look back now and I think, 'Gosh, four decades, that is a long time.' Not many people are in the same job for 40 years any more, let alone acting."
No Plans to Retire
The actress has no intention of retiring. She said: "I don't think I'm ever going to retire. I'll stay here as long as they want me; if they don't want me any more, I'll still try to do something, because the idea of retirement just sounds awful to me!"
She added: "When you love what you do, why would you want to retire? I come into work every day and I'm surrounded by wonderful young people who are showing me what's going on in the world and the fashions, and they're exciting and interesting. I love young people. So the idea of just packing it all in and sitting at home and going, 'Right, what shall I do today?' Just absolutely not."
Dynevor is married to Emmerdale scriptwriter Tim Dynevor and has three children, including Phoebe, who starred in the hit Netflix drama series Bridgerton. She was made an MBE for services to drama in the 2021 New Year Honours.
