Coronation Street star Alison King, known for playing Carla Connor on the ITV soap, has opened up about a hidden health battle that left her struggling to breathe. The actress revealed she caught a chest infection that had a massive impact on her life, making it difficult to exercise and swim, which she described as her therapy.
Struggling to Breathe and Exercise
Speaking in a TikTok about working on the show, King explained that her symptoms included a hurting chest and a sore right lung. She said: "At the beginning of the year, my nervous system seemed to need rebalancing. I lost my mum last year, last August."
She continued: "And then at the beginning of this year, I got a chest infection from two of the gorgeous little babies at work. Actually, when we were filming the wedding, I had been coughing and coughing and coughing. My right lung was hurting, my chest was hurting anyway, it was sick of the coughing, it was inflamed."
King noted that due to her nervous system and inactivity, she was "really struggling to breathe a full breath" and couldn't swim, which she does regularly as her therapy.
Recovery and Ongoing Symptoms
To help with her symptoms, King turned to reflexology and Reiki. She now says she is feeling "good and happy," though she has experienced a twitch in her eye since the infection.
This year, Carla Connor has been central to storylines, including her marriage to DS Lisa Swain, played by Vicky. Vicky commented on the couple's wedding drama, saying: "They think the scream is a fox and just carry on watching the fireworks, so it just ends nicely. They are oblivious but it's a great hook. And also it's a trial for them at the start of married life as Betsy is the one who found the body so they have got something difficult to deal with from day one of married life."
Vicky added: "As a family, after what they have been through I think they feel very equipped now to be able to deal with things as a team." King responded: "I thought, 'Haha Great! Now that's drama.' That's how it has to be. I'm just glad it wasn't our drama and that the wedding happened and they had their day!"
