Sue Devaney modelled Debbie Webster on the women in her life.
Sue Devaney
The 54-year-old actress returned to 'Coronation Street' in 2019 after a 34-year absence and says she took many elements of the character from a combination of the "strong, Northern women" she knows.
She told Metro.co.uk: "She’s a combination of a lot of women I have met in my life – strong, Northern women. A friend of mine, she was my tap dancing teacher and we’re still in touch.
"I modelled Debbie on Maureen a bit – I ended up teaching tap with her when I was 15 and she was old style tap dancer. She still gets those shoes out – she is like the Joan Collins of Rochdale – 'we don’t talk about my age'."
"She had a turquoise and pink Ford Capri and always was matching and glamorous, a pink skirt on, pink boots, pink earrings, pink trilby, the lot! I’m trying to introduce a trilby or two into Debbie’s wardrobe."
Sue also took inspiration from her own grandmother.
She said: "My nana was the same. Those Northern strong women say it as it is as they get older. My friend’s mum Alice, who has sadly passed away now, spoke her mind. She’d go: 'Is that what you’re wearing!? I don’t like that!'
"You’d spent five hours getting ready, think you look amazing and then in one sentence she puts you back down there. It’s lovely that she came in as a bit of a rum bugger but I think she has got that side to her – she doesn’t realise how funny she is."