Sally Carman wants her 'Coronation Street' character to "keep messing up" because that is "real life".
Sally Carman
The 'Corrie' actress' alter-ego, drug and alcohol addict Abi Franklin, has endured a tough life and that isn't about to change with a stint in prison, but the former 'Shameless' star insists it is important to show that other people are in similar situations.
She said: "I would love for Abi to stay troubled and for her to fail, and get her life up and running and start having support.
"But not become this middle class character who has got her act together.
"I'd like her to keep messing up to be relevant. Because people do.
"There's a storyline where she ends up back in prison, and that's great. Because that's real life.
"I want her to be likeable. It would be nice to bring a bit of grey to the black and white viewpoints of people."
Sally has taken her own trip into Abi's backstory, and believes there hasn't been one major event which set her on the path to near-destruction, and she "likes the idea" of that.
Speaking on the 'Justice' podcast, she added: "There's not a mass amount of a backstory but I've done my own little backstory.
"I don't think she has had a major, massive [trauma]. I think she's a kid who has brought herself up a little bit, there's not been any money.
"She's been brought up by her mum, perhaps, and doesn't know who her dad is, perhaps.
"I like the idea there's not been a massive trigger for her to spiral down his worm hole.
"Because it happens."