Katherine Kelly thinks soap stars have more opportunities than ever to become big names.
Katherine Kelly
The former 'Coronation Street' actress has hit out at a time when TV bosses seemed to look down on performers who made their name in soaps, but she insisted there isn't as much snobbery in the industry anymore with plenty of scope to build a career.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I'd say most of the colleagues had on 'Corrie' are still working. We might not see them on TV because they're doing stage work or they're in America. But they're doing really well.
"Of course, I can only speak about my experience or my generation of soap actors. But for me there hasn't been any snobbery about soaps. I understand that was the case a decade or so before.
"There are also more channels and opportunities now. I actually think there is a good work rate for anyone who has been in a soap."
Since leaving 'Corrie' in 2012, Katherine - who played Becky McDonald on the soap - has gone onto appear in the likes of 'The Night Manager', 'Happy Valley' and 'Mr Selfridge', and she explained she has never tried to shy away from her six years on the cobbles.
She added: "I've never gone in for snobbery. I definitely don't differentiate from a lead at the National Theatre and a lead on 'Corrie'. I think they are both worthy of my best endeavour."
Katherine - whose new ITV drama 'Cheat' launches on Monday (11.03.19) at 9pm - also praised the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV for giving more of a platform to actors.
Reflecting on the state of the industry when she left the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) back in 2001, she pointed out that there just weren't enough outlets, meaning if actors missed out on "that year's period drama", they weren't expecting a spot on TV.
She said: "But now what's so exciting is there are so many shop windows. People can even make their own stuff and get it out there."
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