Ex-Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh believes producers wouldn’t offer her the chance to reprise Hayley

Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh has claimed she wouldn’t be offered the chance to reprise her role as transgender Hayley Cropper.

The actress, 50, appeared on Tuesday’s edition of Lorraine to discuss breaking boundaries for playing the first-ever transgender character in a serialised drama from 1998 until 2014.  

Admitting we were ‘in a very different world’ during the early stages of the waitress’ stint, the soap star insisted she now feels ‘strongly’ about having those ‘controversial’ storylines represented by transgender actors instead of non-LGBT thespians.

Julie recently revealed her character was originally written as a ‘politically incorrect’ joke and was only meant to last for two weeks, but she ended up playing Hayley – born as Harold Patterson – for an incredible 16 years. 

The factory supervisor took her own life on the show six years ago following a battle with terminal pancreatic cancer.

While British soap fans have witnessed many characters return from the dead, the Broadchurch star admitted she wouldn’t want to take the opportunity from a real transgender performer.

The TV personality explained: ‘I don’t think I’d be offered it to be honest, I feel very strongly about that. In 1997 it was a very different world, the way we spoke about trans-people… we had little understanding. 

‘All I could do at the time was reassure the different trans activist groups who were concerned I was playing the role that I was their ally.

‘ I think there would have been unbearable pressure on a trans-actor coming out in such a public way on a huge and controversial storyline. It wasn’t why I left but [my exit] came at the exact right time.’ 

MailOnline has contacted ITV representatives for further comment.

Elsewhere in the interview, the Happy Valley star touched on joining drama series The A Word, which follows the life of an autistic boy Joe (Max Vento).

On her role as teacher Heather, who Joe becomes fixated on, Julie said: ‘It’s such a lovely programme, I was so chuffed to be part of it. 

‘It has so many people with additional needs as main characters with their own storylines, it’s just brilliant. It’s such an honour. We had some kids who were actors and some kids from the school.’

Sharing her admiration for teachers, especially during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown period, she added: ‘I thought I could do this as another career, but three weeks into homeschooling and I’m slapping my head. 

‘It’s so challenging, I was never good at maths so I have such respect for teachers.’

Amid the global crisis, the theatre star has been putting smiles on healthcare professionals’ faces by surprising them with online chats.

On offering a helping hand during the pandemic, she added: I’ve never felt as useless in my life. 

‘I get these requests in as it’s a little boost to people. I’m like, ”Really? A doctor who is on a 10-min break from a 12-hour shift wants to speak to me?” It’s really nice.’