It's fair to say that Michelle Keegan's rise to fame has been brilliant to watch. The Stockport-born star can currently be seen in Sky Comedy's Brassic and on BBC One in the broadcaster's new drama, Ten Pound Poms. And while all that is going out on air, she is busy filming her next big job, her first-ever role in a Netflix thriller.
Michelle grew up in Greater Manchester with her parents Michael Keegan and Jackie Turner and her younger brother Andrew. She attended St Patrick's RC High School in Eccles and later the Manchester School of Acting, where fellow Coronation Street alumni Suranne Jones also studied.
But, before getting her first role, Michelle's first jobs included working at Selfridges in the Trafford Centre on a make-up counter, having worked at various stores from the age of 15 to 20, and at Manchester Airport as a check-in agent.
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The now 35-year-old was offered the part of Tina McIntyre in Corrie in only her second-ever audition in 2007. And, as we now know, she accepted the role, beating around 900 other people who auditioned. Tina made her ITV soap debut when she had a chance encounter with David Platt while her character was visiting the Rosamund Street Medical Centre.
The pair soon started dating and, within a week of the relationship, she had sex with David and fell pregnant before seeking Gail Platt's advice and having a private abortion. David found out, but their relationship survived. However, when he pressured her to commit perjury to put away his rival Gary Windass, Tina chose to exonerate Gary and finish her relationship with David instead. But Tina's involvement with the Platts didn't end, due to her dad, Joe, being married to Gail.
However, his death in a boating accident after he tried to fake his own death - for which Tina blamed Gail - caused Tina to spiral into depression. She later acted as a surrogate for Gary and Izzy Armstrong, giving birth to Jake the following year. But the pregnancy put a strain on her relationship with Tommy Duckworth, and he eventually left her when Tina put David up out of loyalty, when his wife Kylie kicked him out.
Tina was also involved in an on-off affair with the much older Peter Barlow, and believed his promises that he would leave Weatherfield with her and dump his wife Carla. But, after being cast aside by Peter, Tina got into a confrontation with Rob Donovan and threatened to report him to the authorities about his dodgy dealings. Tina was then pushed off the balcony of the Builder's Yard and beaten unconscious by Rob in an attempt to silence her, and later died in hospital, leading to Michelle's exit in 2014.
During her time in Corrie Michelle won a host of British Soap Awards, including for Best Actress and Sexiest Female. The year after leaving, Michelle landed her next big role in the BBC's drama Ordinary Lies. in which she played Tracy Shawcross. That same year, the former soap star announced her biggest role to date, as she landed a part in Our Girl, playing Corporal Georgie Lane, which aired in 2016.
She went on to act in the following two series after this in 2017 and 2020, taking over from EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who played the lead role of Molly Dawes in the pilot and first series of the military drama series. In between, in 2017, Michelle took on the role of Tina in the drama which depicted Tina Dean's and World Cup '66 England captain Bobby Moore's relationship, ITV's three-part series Tina & Bobby.
Then, in 2019, she was cast in Brassic where she played the main role of Erin Croft, before signing up for Ten Pound Poms, which was filmed in Australia last year. And earlier this year, Michelle announced fans will see her in a different light as she is set to star in a new Netflix thriller series.
In an Instagram post, the brunette beauty revealed 'the secret's out' as she told her 6.4 million Instagram followers that she would be joining the cast of Fool Me Once, which is an adaptation of bestselling author Harlan Coben's book. The author has created some of Netflix' biggest mystery dramas based on his novels - including huge hits The Stranger, Stay Close and Safe.
Away from the small screen, Michelle has had her own collection with Lipsy before joining the team at Very, where she continues to release clothing and homeware ranges.
Yet despite her success, Michelle recently shared the hidden battle she faces. Speaking to The Sun, she said: "When I first started on Corrie, and I’ve still got it a little bit now: imposter syndrome. I know a lot of people talk about it. I was only 19 and it was my second-ever audition. I went into the audition and I had not an inkling I was gonna get the job.
"I purely went to see what it was like in an audition room and meet directors and stuff - I didn’t think for a second I was going to get the job. When I did get the job, it was like: ‘Okay, what the hell do I do now?’ I remember walking into the green room and seeing certain chairs, and I was like: ‘Am I allowed to sit in a chair, or is that someone's chair?’ I didn’t know… I was the outsider, I didn’t understand where I fitted in at all."
In her own personal life, Michelle's work on Our Girl led to her helping save a strangers life. She was dining in a restaurant when a woman at a neighbouring table began choking, collapsing face first onto her plate. She is said to have leapt into action and shouted commands to panicked restaurant staff.
From her time on set, Michelle was aware that the woman needed sugar, so urged the waiter to get some Coke, and gently encouraged her to sip it slowly. "They came over with a bottle and a straw", she told The Daily Star. "I knew it was quite dangerous because it could get trapped in her throat, so I threw the straw and put it in a glass.
"She started sipping it and came round slowly." She added: "Before Our Girl I would never have done that... I would have gone into a panic state. I think the training that I had gave me confidence."
As for Michelle's personal life, she is happily married to former The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright. The pair tied the knot back in May 2015 after getting engaged in 2013, following nine months of dating. They got married at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmonds before finishing the celebrations at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk, in a marquee within the picturesque grounds.
Before dating Mark, Michelle had another serious relationship with The Wanted musician Max George. The pair became engaged in 2011 but ended their relationship the following year.
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