Julie Hesmondhalgh studied drama at LAMDA in London from 1988-91. After graduating she and a few friends set up a theatre company, Arts Threshold, in Paddington. She soon landed TV roles in “The Bill”, “The Dwelling Place”, “Dalziel & Pascoe” and the Victoria Wood movie, “Pat and Margaret”.
Julie is best known and loved for her multi-award-winning performance as the transgender, Hayley Cropper, in Britain’s longest-running TV soap, “Coronation Street”, a role she played for 16 years. Since leaving the soap in 2014 Julie has dedicated most of her time to working with LGBT and transgender issues, appearing in the Channel 4 TV series about modern gay life in Manchester, “Cucumber” and its companion series, “Banana”.
Julie accepted our invitation to read two poems for the CD with great enthusiasm. And when asked if she would mind having a photo taken in the recording studio with Craig Brierley, who would also be recording his eulogy to his brother Shaun that morning, she responded, “I would be honoured.”
