Stephanie Davis said it was a "dream come true" to land a role on Coronation Street.
The 30-year-old will make her Cobbles debut as Courtney Vance in the episode broadcast on July 19. The former Hollyoaks star's Weatherfield bow will mark her eagerly awaited return to the screen after she stepped away from performing following the birth of her child, Caben.
Steph's six-year-old son is now at school and she told the ECHO how she reached a point last year when she had to get back to "where she belongs" in front of the camera. She said: "I needed to do what I love again so I got a new agent and set myself on a fresh start."
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The Celebrity Big Brother star set her targets high as she immediately told her agent she wanted to fulfill her lifelong goal of joining the cast of Corrie. Steph was getting her eyelashes done by her cousin just two days later when she received the call to hear a part was being written with her in mind.
She said: "All this was like fate. It didn't sink in and I actually started crying. I couldn't believe how quick it had all happened and I was so grateful.
"As a kid, I grew up with Coronation Street and I just felt everything had happened for a reason and I felt really blessed. I couldn't believe that one minute I was telling this new agent I wanted to do Coronation Street and the next minute I'd got the part. It was a whirlwind, but amazing."
Steph hails from Prescot and she celebrated in style after landing the part with a decadent meal at her favourite spot in Liverpool. She said: "Me and my partner went to Lunya and we literally ordered the whole menu of tapas to the point I was literally feeling sick when I got home because I ate that much." She added: "We ate our bodyweight in tapas then came home and put Netflix on."
Steph is proud of her Merseyside roots and is excited to join the soap at the same time as fellow Liverpudlian, Claire Sweeney. She said: "Two Scousers going into the Cobbles. We'll be taking over. It's brilliant. It's really good because you never really get that and to be in there with Claire is amazing."
Different shooting schedules meant the two weren't on set at the same time for their first scenes - but Steph was thrilled to finally be able to catch up with the former Brookside star when she returned from holiday last month. She said: "I just walked into the dressing room and she screamed, we had a massive hug and a gab for ages. I'm so proud of her."
Steph's arrival on the Cobbles is set to be explosive as Courtney will strike up a romance with Aadi Alahan, played by Adam Hussain. Fans can expect some racy scenes as the 18-year-old Aadi will be allured to Courtney, who will not spurn his advances despite being married to rich businessman, Darren.
However, Steph said the age difference between Courtney and Aadi doesn't concern her as the fling with a younger lover is an insight into her character's vulnerabilities. She said: "She's very sassy and has got a lot of confidence but deep down there's loads of layers there. She's not had a great life.
"She's settled down with Darren who has got loads of money and she's settled for that to have a good lifestyle but there's no love there. Courtney in a nutshell is just longing to be loved."
Steph has poured a lot into the character and hopes Courtney is set for a long stay on the Cobbles. She added: "I've really got an understanding and love for Courtney so I've put certain things into her character myself.
"She's an amazing character but what I loved about her is that it's only just scratching the surface and there's so many more layers to her."
Steph heaped praise on her co-stars for how she has been welcomed on set and said it makes her emotional to be back doing what she loves. She added: "My first scene was in the Rovers and I just couldn't wait to be back on set and hear 'rolling up and action'. I took a little video of myself when I heard it and I could have cried. I was so happy."
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