PAINFUL CONFESSION: Corrie Lisa star Vicky Myers makes Heartbreaking Health ANNOUNCEMENT
Vicky Myers battled skin cancer in 2010
For Coronation Street’s Vicky Myers, surviving skin cancer changed everything – but it also brought her a gut-wrenching realisation.
Diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her calf in 2010, she endured treatment and reconstructive surgery, a turning point that forced her to reassess her life.
“I was in a poor state of mental health because I was trying to juggle an awful lot of things,” says Vicky Myers. “Then the diagnosis happened and I realised what I would have given to have that time back.”
The realisation that ensued grounded Vicky more than anything. “I try to remember that now because the fear of potentially not experiencing certain times, like my daughter’s wedding, or even another autumn re-centred my mind on what was actually important.”
This new approach to life sits in contrast to her character, DS Lisa Swain, who often struggles to let things go, and Vicky hints at stormy scenes ahead as Lisa’s relationship with Carla Connor (Alison King) heats up.
In Coronation Street, Carla is preparing to propose to Lisa, and she’s even involving Lisa’s daughter Betsy (Sydney Martin). “Carla asks for her permission,” Vicky says. “It’s the mother-daughter relationship Carla’s yearned for, but the plans are fumbled by a neighbour.”
After sporadic appearances in Coronation Street, Vicky Myers has become a favourite among ITV viewers, alongside on-screen daughter Sydney Martin
That neighbour is David Platt (Jack P Shepherd), who has been locking horns with the detective sergeant since she and Carla moved into No.6 with Betsy and Carla’s nephew, Ryan (Ryan Prescott).
“Lisa wants to move forward and be happy,” Vicky, 49, says. “She wants this family and she loves Ryan, she’s happy he’s in the fold. I’m enjoying watching the dynamic unfold between Lisa and David. But, fear not, there is a proposal further down the line.”
Carla’s first attempt at popping the question went awry when she discovered Lisa’s late wife, Becky, once used the same trick — slipping an engagement ring into a champagne glass.
Becky’s presence still looms large, and Carla has even probed prison inmate Logan Radcliffe about Becky’s d3ath in the line of duty. He reluctantly offered Lisa a new lead: Tia Wardley.
This week, Lisa and Carla finally come face to face with Tia, and the arrival forces Lisa back into the mystery surrounding Becky’s d3ath. “Lisa doesn’t give up,” Vicky says.
“We’ve already seen her take off Becky’s wedding ring but she’s extremely suspicious, she doesn’t know what to think.” Re-opening that can of worms could come at a high price.
“She has to look into that a lot further, but there’s the emotional commitment to it,” adds Vicky. “She’s supposed to be moving on with her life and the woman that she loves. She needs to put it to bed with Becky. It’s the itch that needs to be scratched.”
Off-screen, Vicky is the mother of Meghan, 28(Image: Vicky Myers/instagram)
But it could drive a wedge between Lisa and Carla. “She doesn’t want to lie to her but she doesn’t want her to be weighed down with it all because this relationship is still fairly new,” Vicky explains.
“She’s besotted, they heal each other. A lot of it is police business, there are things she can’t talk about.” Balancing Lisa’s complexity is a gratifying challenge for Vicky but, if there’s one thing she wishes, it’s for more time to connect with fans.
“The amount of fan mail and the effort people go to is really something,” she says. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time to respond to people. If somebody has taken the time to put pen to paper, I want to read that and I’ll respond appropriately.”
Vicky, who in real life is mum to daughter Meghan, 28, is particularly touched by the movement behind “Swarla” — the name coined by fans for Lisa Swain and Carla — and she knows representation matters.
“It shows how much Lisa was needed, her and her blended family,” she says. “It’s not shown enough, and I hadn’t portrayed a character that’s part of the LGBTQIA. It’s absolutely what I wanted to do. There wasn’t a second thought about it.”
For Vicky, it’s an authentic portrayal, not a stunt. “I hate the term queer-baiting, it’s not that,” Vicky says. Instead, it’s a modern depiction of a lesbian couple — something she sees as a step forward after decades of prejudice. Growing up in the 1980s, she recalls the homophobia around the Aids epidemic.
“I remember it was horrific. To be able to portray Lisa with Ali — we’re making history. It’s needed.” Vicky has also formed close bonds with her co-stars.
Vicky admits she’s developed a strong bond with her co-star Alison King, whom she calls her ‘wife’ on set
“Ali and I call each other ‘work wife’, but that’s not a spoiler,” she quips. “Sydney is like a second daughter. I am truly thankful to be surrounded by these people.”
On screen, while Lisa’s relationship with colleague Kit Green is strained, Vicky shares a common passion with the actor who portrays him, Jacob Roberts.
“We discuss football because we’re both [Manchester] City fans, so that tends to be the main topic of conversation. I also share a dressing room with Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), who is one of the most hilarious people I’ve ever met.”
Away from the ITV soap, Vicky turns to nature to find balance, saying, “I always hug trees. People think I’m a bit doolally but I don’t mind. I find them so calming.”
However, she prefers to do it barefoot. “I don’t like wearing socks, I really don’t like wearing shoes,” she says. “Whenever I can, I like to walk barefoot, especially outside.”
