Beverley Callard back to 'old self'

10 May 2016

Beverley Callard is "back to her old self".

Beverley Callard

The 59-year-old actress has portrayed pub landlady Liz McDonald in the long-running soap since 1989 and recently took time out to battle depression but returned to work last week, much to the delight of her co-stars, who were delighted to have her back in Weatherfield.

Kym Marsh - who plays her on-screen daughter-in-law Michelle McDonald - wrote in her OK! magazine column: "Bev Callard was back on the 'Corrie' set last week for the first time sicne taking a break because she was suffering from depression.

"It was really good to have her back - we were so pleased.

"We filmed her first scenes back together and I gave her a big hug when I saw her. She looked really well and she's back to her old self and seemed very happy.

"Work felt strange without her, as I'm so used to seeing her around. She's such a big part of the show and 'Corrie' just wasn't the same."

Beverley was signed off work for two months after her condition spiralled out of control when she ran out of the drug she takes for it after it was abruptly discontinued without warning.

She explained: "I went straight to the doctors with Liz's make-up on, with my fake eyelashes hanging off and he saw me virtually straight away and said we need some kind of substitute [for the discontinued drug]. I later saw another consultant and I have to tell you, he was rubbish, he looked at me like I was an idiot."

The actress recently admitted her struggles meant she lost the confidence to play brassy as she no longer felt "brave" enough to wear her alter-ego's tight skirts and cleavage-flashing tops.

She said: "I lose my confidence totally and to be honest to play Liz, you've got to be brave... a PVC mini-skirt. To put those clothes on. I just thought, oh my goodness me, I feel idiotic. And I'm not up to this anymore. And my confidence was totally gone. Then I looked around on set and there were lots of beautiful females on set and I think, 'I can't do it.'

"I sat on the stairs for a little while, while they were moving cameras, and I was just crying silently. And one of the make-up girls, who are our great friends, saved my life. She said, 'You need to go home.'"