Coronation Street actress from Colne wins Best Newcomer at British Soap Awards
9:42am Friday 4th May 2012 in TV
Coronation Street actress from Colne wins Best Newcomer at British Soap Awards
AN East Lancashire actress who stars in Coronation Street has scooped the prestigious Best Newcomer title at the British Soap Awards.
Natalie Gumede, 28, from Colne, won the award for her role as twisted policewoman Kirsty Soames in the hit soap.
The former Park High pupil, 28, said the award, which is voted for by the public, had completed a 'special year'.
She joined the soap last year as Tyrone Dobbs’s girlfriend, but soon managed to alienate his friends with her overpowering ways.
The couple briefly split up before getting back together after Kirsty announced she was expecting Tyrone’s baby.
Her character is set for a major storyline involving domestic violence where she attacks Tyrone after she loses her job.
Accepting the award, Natalie said: “This has rounded off a really special year for me.
“I'd like to take the opportunity to thank a wonderful cast, crew and production team at Coronation Street. It’s made the experience so wonderful.”
Natalie is a former member of the Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre and also attended the Susan Chippendale School of Dancing in Colne.
Former head Susan Chippendale, who retired five years ago, said: “She was with me from the age of three or four to when she went to college at 16.
“She was a really lovely girl. I find it quite funny that she has a horrible character on Corrie because she was so nice, but it shows what a great actor she is.”
Natalie also thanked her friends and family for their support on accepting the award.
The star looked stunning dressed in a fitted one-shouldered red dress, as she collected her gong from singers Dionne Bromfield and Marcus Collins.
She beat competition from fellow soap stars including Lu Corfield, who plays Freya Wilson in Doctors, Jamie Foreman who plays Derek Branning in EastEnders and Gemma Oaten who is Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale.
