Former Brookside star Claire Sweeney will soon hit the cobblestones as mechanic Tyrone Dobbs’ long-lost mother Cassandra.
And initial images released on Sunday gave a glimpse of her heroin-addicted Coronation Street persona as Claire looked completely unrecognizable.
The footage showed her leaning against a wall while wearing dirty clothes and looking thin.
For years, Tyrone assumed his mother was dead after his grandmother told Evelyn.
And now viewers will have to wait and see how the jaw-dropping family reunion plays out.
Unrecognizable: Former Brookside star Claire Sweeney will soon be hitting the cobblestones as mechanic Tyrone Dobbs’ long-lost mother Cassandra
Other: And the first images released on Sunday gave a glimpse of her heroin-addicted nature, as Claire looked completely unrecognizable (Claire pictured normally)
In her first chat since joining the soap, she said at a Corrie press conference, “I’m not vain.
“I’m an actress, the first day I filmed on the cobbles, one of the extras like you said to me, ‘Oh, we didn’t know that, we didn’t recognize you’ and a full ‘brilliant!’ that’s how I wanted to be, I want, I want her to be so far from me.
“As soon as I put on the clothes, the leggings, the converse and the cap, which look really rough, I kind of become that character.
“And it would be interesting to see if she gets a little bit of glamor when she sorts herself out, I don’t know that far yet. I think it’s absolutely brilliant as an actress, you just want to be quite removed from yourself. And she sure is.’
No doubt Cassandra’s arrival will make a huge impression on Street, with actress Claire saying earlier this month: ‘Although I’ve been fortunate enough to have had an incredibly varied career for almost 40 years, casting in Coronation Street is, to me, better than being cast in a Hollywood movie!’
“I’ve watched it all my life and can’t believe I’m about to step on those famous cobblestones myself.”
“I was really nervous when I got the scripts to audition because this show means so much to me and my family.
Change: The images showed her sneaking up against a wall while wearing dirty clothes and looking skinny
New character: Brookside icon and West End star Claire will take on the role of Cassie, the mother of Weatherfield mechanic Tyrone Dobbs
Heading for the Rovers? Claire has already started filming and her first appearance will air on June 28
mom? “I was extremely excited and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod is trusting me to play Tyrone’s mother,” Claire admitted (Photo: Actor Alan Halsall as Tyrone Dobbs)
“This is Corrie Gold, I was beyond thrilled and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod trusts me to play Tyrone’s mother and team up with one of my heroes, Dame Maureen Lipman.”
Her first appearance will air on June 28.
Tyrone, (Alan Halsall) has been told by his grandmother Evelyn Plummer (Dame Maureen Lipman) that her daughter and his biological mother Cassie are dead.
So when Cassie turns up out of nowhere on the cobblestones in June, Evelyn faces a real dilemma: she must decide whether to tell Tyrone straight about her lies.
Tyrone grew up believing his mother was Jackie Dobbs, played by Margi Clarke, but in 2018 research into his ancestry brought him into contact with Evelyn for the first time and uncovered evidence that Evelyn’s daughter Cassandra was his birth mother.
Evelyn did not trust Cassandra to take good care of him due to her drug use and had left Tyrone at a police station in 1982, where he was found by Jackie who raised him as her own.
Now Tyrone faces more heartbreak as secrets and lies from his past threaten to destroy his relationship with his grandmother and he must find a new relationship with his mother.
Coronation Street Producer Iain MacLeod said: ‘Claire wowed us in her audition and the scenes with her, Tyrone and Evelyn will be thrilling.
“Her arrival marks the beginning of a tumultuous time for Tyrone and the family and her impact will be felt across the street in the weeks and months that follow.”
Liverpool-born Claire was first known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkill in the scuse soap Brookside, for which she won Best Dramatic Scene at the British Soap Awards.
The actress went on to build a hugely successful stage career, which included playing Roxy Hart in Chicago’s West End.
She also starred in the world tour of the musical revue Fosse and took on the role of Miss Adelaide in the West End production of Guys and Dolls before touring the UK alongside Patrick Swayze in the same production.
Drama! Tyrone has been told by his grandmother Evelyn Plummer (Dame Maureen Lipman) that her daughter and his birth mother Cassie are dead.
Throwback: A native of Liverpool, Claire was first known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkill in scouse soap opera Brookside (pictured with Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill) and Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkill)
She was Paulette in Legally Blonde’s first UK tour; The Musical and Velma Von-Tussle in Hairspray’s UK tour and most recently led the cast of Dolly Parton’s musical 9to5 as Violet.
The mother-of-one’s television credits also include Benidorm, Scarborough, Candy Candy Cabs and Clocking Off.
In addition to her acting career, Claire is also an accomplished presenter who hosted a 60 minute makeover as well as BBC One’s Here Comes the Sun and co-hosted ITV’s Chef v Britain with Gino D’Campo as well as co-hosted Loose for several years Women. .
In 2014, Claire welcomed her son Jaxon with her former fiancé Daniel Riley.