(This post was originally posted by Emma Hynes on the Coronation Street Blog in September 2014.)
Kylie’s not having it easy at the moment.
Struggling to cope with the stresses of both parenthood and working life, and
with things getting steadily worse, it doesn’t bode well for her over the
coming months.
I travelled to ITV in Manchester
to hear Paula Lane
reveal more about the drama to come.
A character such as Kylie is often marked out
for strong storylines, a fact which Paula
finds very flattering as an actress. Kylie
has had some tough times on the street, and this will be her third Christmas with
a big story, and on a downward spiral. This, Paula reveals, will be the darkest
place Kylie has found herself yet, and while the street has proven redemptive terrain
for her, there are just too many demons in her old neighbourhood.
Struggling to come to terms with Max’s
diagnosis with ADHD, Kylie visits his biological father Callum to see if his
condition is genetic. While she feels guilty about her own actions during her
early days as a mother, she does wonder if he has inherited something from his
father. Desperately wishing to cling to the life she has made for herself with
David, her remorse becomes twofold as she feels guilty on returning home after
meeting Callum. David notices a big change in her as she proves grumpy
and agitated with a short fuse, but he puts it down to tiredness.
Callum disappeared shortly after Max was born,
and when Kylie returns, he doesn’t initially show any interest in his son. This
soon changes however, much to Kylie’s unease. In any event, she doesn’t get
the answers she wants from her ex, a cocky, arrogant drug dealer who thinks Max
would do well to take after him.
While Kylie’s reasons for seeking out Callum
are just, Paula acknowledges that there is something deep down that leads her
to him for less honourable reasons, even though she continues to convince herself
that it’s all for Max.
Paula explains how David takes to locking Max’s
medication away after he discovers Kylie taking it, and her former drug
addiction sees her turn to speed as an alternative. Kylie knows Callum can supply
her, which he does, but not without toying with her in the process.
While their relationship is hostile, Paula assures
us that the chemistry between Kylie and Callum is “electric”. It helps that
there is a great dynamic between herself and newcomer Sean Ward who she
describes as “fabulous”, and is certain will add “flavour to the street”. And while
Kylie doesn’t necessarily fancy Callum, he has a charm about him that makes her
feel excited, and she gets a kick out of being with him again.
One might wonder why, having made such progress
in her life, Kylie must regress yet again. Paula puts this down to Kylie always
carrying the fear that the mistakes she made with Max early on will have
affected him, thus making her vulnerable, and she feels judged by others on the
street who may see her as responsible for Max’s behaviour.
It is crucial for Paula that Kylie remains
sympathetic, and she considers this, together with her feelings of inferiority,
to be the crux of the character. “If all her creases were ironed out”, observes
Paula, “I don’t know if there’d be much drama left in her”. It’s important to
her that Kylie isn’t portrayed as one dimensional, and she observes, “I
haven’t wanted her to enjoy going back to speed, it’s a real test for her.”
The research conducted around both drug
addiction and ADHD makes Paula feel well supported. With regard to the former, Paula
relies on a combination of instinct, how Kylie’s story is written, and the
advice of a recovering addict to inform her performance. With regard to the
ADHD aspect, while she has experienced people saying Max has never shown signs
of this behaviour before, and it’s purely for the storyline, on the whole a lot
of parents have said thank you for addressing it and portraying it, as it
reflects their feelings and experience.
Preparing for motherhood herself, Paula reveals
that her pregnancy hasn’t posed many problems with regard to filming, with
helpful disguises including well placed handbags, fruit bowls and teapots. “To
be pregnant accomplishing something feels really successful, and I’ve had a
kick out of it and felt like I’ve gone on this journey with my little pal” she explains,
“It’s never felt like work”. Paula’s impressions of Kylie as a mother are that “She
tries her best and shouldn’t be so hard on herself. She’s a tortured soul whose
heart is in the right place”.
With her baby due in December, Paula will
finish filming in the first week of November; perfect timing for a Christmas
exit. While the storyline was already in the pipeline, her departure facilitated
taking it in a different direction, resulting in a traumatic exit. Paula
considers it strange to get a taste of what it would be like to leave the
street, albeit temporarily, as she plans to be back on the cobbles in March.
She feels very privileged to be in Corrie, and
acting is a big passion for her. She’d love at some point to tread the boards
at the Royal Exchange, perform in a fresh drama that hasn’t been done before,
or try her hand at sci-fi or a part in Doctor Who.
Paula very much values her privacy, and doesn’t
subscribe to the celebrity lifestyle confirming, “It’s a conscious decision
and something I've been very happy with and won’t change”. She finds fulfillment
in people noticing her for doing her job and not for something else, observing “That
is the biggest kick that I can get out of it. It’s worth a thousand magazine
deals”. She is clearly passionate about acting and values her job immensely. While
Kylie shares her feistiness, Paula is very sensitive and could never have
fights like Kylie does. “I like to think I've brought a bit of
myself to the role” she explains, “but the rest I've pulled out of thin air
really”.
I asked Paula what her one wish for Kylie would be:
“Just to be happy and safe in the knowledge that you’re okay, and people make
mistakes, and she doesn't always have to go off the rails.” Here's hoping she will emerge from her darkest hour having learned her greatest lesson.
By Emma Hynes
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