‘They put their lives on the line daily, helping people they don’t even know!’ Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn says her cancer storyline opened her eyes to ‘incredible’ NHS
She’s best known for playing Sinead Tinker on Coronation Street.
And, Katie McGlynn has said that her experience of playing out her cervical cancer storyline in the ITV soap opened her eyes to the ‘incredible’ NHS after she worked closely with nurses and other care professionals.
The actress, 26, urged people to stay and home amid the coronavirus lockdown and donate to charities (if they’re able to) as she praised healthcare staff, saying: ‘They put their lives on the line daily, helping people they don’t even know!’
Incredible: Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, 26, has said that her experience of playing out Sinead Tinker’s cervical cancer storyline opened her eyes to the ‘incredible’ NHS
The actress told The Sun how she worked closely with nurses and other care professionals who helped cancer patients first-hand, and who knew only too well the reality of life on the front line of Britain’s health services.
She said: ‘I thought I knew what working for the NHS meant, but until I came to know those staff personally I really had no idea about the lengths they go to, pushing themselves to go above and beyond their duty every week of every year to save people’s lives.’
The actress revealed how when medical staff said they were impressed with her acting skills, she insisted that they were the ones who were impressive.
Katie told one nurse: ‘You’re like an angel in my eyes,’ after she explained to the actress how in her day-to-day life she supports sufferers in every way possible, and is there for families through the worst time imaginable.
Candid: The actress urged people to stay and home and donate to charities as she praised NHS staff, saying: ‘They put their lives on the line daily, helping people they don’t even know!’
No idea: ‘I thought I knew what working for the NHS meant, but until I came to know those staff personally I really had no idea about the lengths they go to’ said Katie
Katie said: ‘They’re not like real people. They’re like angels who swoop in and try to make it their best last days of their life.
‘When the spotlight moves away, they keep going, working as hard and selflessly as ever. These incredible staff are putting their lives on the line daily, helping people they don’t even know’
The actress praised the NHS frontline staff for delivering ‘every single time’, noting the limited resources and low wages they’re often faced with as she urged people to help them by staying at home and donating to fundraising appeals.
Talented actress: Katie McGlynn won the National Television Awards 2020 for best Drama Performance award for her cancer storyline
Speaking to The Sun in February, Katie detailed the mental and physical tole the storyline put her through.
Sher said: ‘I just didn’t feel myself. Throughout the whole Sinead storyline, I put a bit of weight on and didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin.
‘As an actor, it can be a stressful life. It’s really good, but I felt really emotionally drained after my Corrie scenes.
‘I had not realised how it had affected me emotionally.’