Sue Cleaver opens up about 'massive fallout' with Denise Welch admitting she's a 'learner'
Sue Cleaver is currently looking forward to the summer and embarking on fresh ventures following her final bow from the cobbles. The actress who is known for her portrayal of Coronation Street 's Eileen Grimshaw, saw her last scenes broadcast earlier this month.
During an exclusive conversation with Love Sunday, she emphasises her passion for "embracing change and living fearlessly". At 61, having spent a quarter of a century in Corrie, the regular on Loose Women is pursuing a personal journey of self-discovery.
"I've made massive decisions to reinvent myself and embrace change. This is the time of life when society wants you to just go away quietly," Sue shares.
She elaborates further, stating, "But this is the period, for a lot of women who have put themselves second – because they've brought up families, had mortgages, etcetera – when we hit an age and think, 'What now? Who am I?'".
Her recent actions are geared towards personal evolution and exploration. 'Everything I've done in the last year has been about reinvention and discovery.
"I'd like to say I'm one of life's learners, and I never stop learning. I'm just getting really interested in me, and challenging all the beliefs I had about myself.".
Her forthcoming professional transformation will see her swap television drama for the theatre stage when she undertakes a role in Theatr Clwyd and Bolton Octagon's co-production of Snake In The Grass later in the summer. She finds this especially thrilling as it represents a significant "full circle" moment in her career.
"The Octagon Theatre in Bolton is where I got my first equity card. I must've been in eight or nine plays there. So to be going back there at this stage in my life feels sort of full circle, it's quite lovely."
Meanwhile, we occasionally glimpse the actress on Loose Women as a guest panellist. The talk show is gearing up for significant alterations come January, which includes bidding farewell to its live audience, as part of a series of ITV reductions.
"I love that show. It's brilliant. I've known all the girls for years, so, yeah," she commented when asked about her desire for more time on the show now that her schedule has freed up a bit. And regarding the rumours of behind-the-scenes disputes?
"They always like to say 'catfights', but they only say that about women, don't they? They wouldn't dream of saying that when it's blokes presenting something. Actually we're very tight. But it happens a lot when Denise [Welch] and I are on together.
"We've known each other for 25 years – we're close friends and have a sort of shorthand in the way we communicate. The press will say 'massive fallout', but I've never fallen out with Denise in my life! It's quite awful, we've still got so far to go that it's depressing."
Away from the screen, Sue has been quietly managing a personal health struggle. Having endured Type 2 diabetes for nearly three decades, she likens the daily mental impact of the condition to running "a mental marathon, every single day".
Over the past three years, she's managed to alleviate some of her mental burden by using a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor, which offers glucose readings automatically without needing to prick her finger.
She described the relentless mental strain, saying, "I can't explain the mental fatigue you get, it's like an app running in the background of your brain, a constant noise of 'What's my sugar? Did I take my meds? What can I eat to avoid a spike?'"
"It's like constant brain drain from making decisions, and the stress affects people because, unlike a diet, diabetes management is lifelong and that decision fatigue manifests in skipped medications and poor food choices. It's not about being lazy, people get totally overwhelmed and I really relate to that."
Deciding to leave Coronation Street after dedicating 25 years to its allure was a significant move – one that she reflects on with contentment.
Quite uniquely, and perhaps befitting her iconic standing as a stalwart of Weatherfield, Sue received the rare opportunity to engage in the discussions about her character Eileen's departure, which commenced with the stark contemplation of Eileen's potential demise.
"They said, 'What kind of exit would you like? Dramatic? Do you want a final death?' And I said I didn't. I said I really wanted Eileen's son, Jason, to come back, and for it to mirror what I'm doing in my own life. For Eileen to get out there, live fearlessly, live bravely."
Her last day of filming saw heartwarming scenes alongside her on-screen son Ryan Thomas. Following a celebratory meal with the cast and crew in high spirits, she bid adieu to the Manchester set on the succeeding day.
Instead of lingering farewells, an early train to London beckoned, allowing little time for gloom. Her husband, Brian Owen, who still has roles to play behind the scenes on the show, signifies that her detachment from the world of Corrie isn't absolute.
"That show's always been about the people, the sense of family and community, and I don't feel I've lost that. I had absolutely no doubt I was doing the right thing, and I'm not somebody who dwells on the past. Past thoughts are dead thoughts, I try to live in the present and enjoy every single moment."
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