A TELEVISION actress from East Lancashire has defended her role in Britain's top soap opera amid a storm of protest over her controversial character.

Coronation Street bosses have been blasted for the show's storyline about a transsexual played by Julie Hesmondhalgh from Church.

Transsexuals are angered by the portrayal of Hayley Patterson who has left viewers reeling after breaking the news about her double-life to unsuspecting boyfriend Roy Cropper.

And more controversy looks set to follow after the actress hinted a possible reunion with Roy could be on the cards when her character returns after a sex change operation.

But Julie defended her role and claims the controversial scenes featuring her character have been handled "sensitively".

She said: "Since the scene was broadcast when Hayley told Roy, I have personally found that people have been very positive. Most just want Roy and Hayley to get together. "There are some particular transsexual groups not happy because the storyline has used humour.

"I knew the role would create some discussion and can understand why groups may think they have point. But I feel the scene where Hayley told Roy was sensitively handled."

Her bosses at Granada only received three letters of complaint, which were about a woman playing the part rather than a transsexual.

Julie carefully researched her controversial role through reading and spoke to transsexuals when news of the new character got out.

She has seen Hayley as a challenge and believes the support from actor David Neilson, who plays cafe owner Roy, has helped enormously.

The 27-year-old explained: "We were both a bit worried that we might have to work with someone who was bigoted or prejudiced. That would have made it difficult.

"But as soon as we met we knew there wasn't going to be a problem. "It was important that I played an accurate and plausible character who was suited to Roy. In fact, people say they are a match made in heaven."

Julie, whose parents John and Maureen live in Church, came back home to speak to pupils at her old school, Moorhead High in Accrington.

She talked to youngsters about her career during assembly and met her former teachers.

Julie is about to shoot her final scenes in Coronation Street before taking a two-month break from the soap. But, intriguingly, she will be back.

Her character is disappearing from the Street to undergo a sex-change operation.

It will give Julie a chance to fulfil an ambition and spend some of the money she has made from her star role.

She explained: "I am going to go around the world. It is something I have always wanted to do and I plan to visit America, Venezuela, Cuba, New Zealand and Australia.

"I haven't got any commitments at the moment and it will probably be the last opportunity I will have to do it."

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