EXCLUSIVE: Faye Brookes became known to millions as Kate Connor when she joined Coronation Street, and, as well as teasing a comeback to the soap, she has now spoken about the "unbreakable" bond she has with her husband, and the daunting task of taking on a new stage role made famous by pop icon Cher18:54, 09 Aug 2026Updated 18:54, 09 Aug 2026Three years on from her fairy-tale wedding, bubbly Trafford-born actress Faye Brookes is loving her idyllic life in the Cotswolds. She shot to fame on Coronation Street in 2015, as Kate Connor, and while Faye said goodbye to the famous cobbles in 2019, she’s been treading the boards ever since.‌Here, the 38-year-old, who is married to fellow actor Iwan Lewis, tells us about the “unbreakable” bond she has with her husband, the daunting task of taking on a part made famous by Cher, and a potential comeback to the role that made her a household name…‌Faye became a soap star on Corrie over a decade ago, swiftly becoming a fan favourite when her character, Kate, embarked on a relationship with nurse, Rana Habeeb. But as she tells new, she’s not stopped since leaving the ITV soap in 2019.‌The TV star married theatre performer Iwan in 2023 following a whirlwind romance, and insists her husband inspires her to keep going through the inevitable highs, lows and uncertainties that come with a career in showbiz.“Iwan is always levelling up, and that inspires me,” she says. “We’re very supportive of each other’s careers.”‌Faye first met Iwan, 37, who is now the artistic director at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, when they co-starred in the 2012 tour of Legally Blonde.It may have taken more than a decade for romance to blossom, but after mere months of dating, Faye knew he was The One. “There’s a respect in our relationship that is just unbreakable,” she beams. “Iwan is my biggest cheerleader. I thank my lucky stars that I’ve got a man like him in my corner. I know he’s talking about me in rooms I’m not in.”There are days, she explains, when they both just want to binge-watch something on Netflix and chill out with their dogs, but, for the most part, they’re both very driven.‌“We champion each other,” says Faye, “and I know that’s very rare. In the past, my mum would say ‘If they don’t get it, chuck ’em!’ That’s her Northern grit coming through!”Before finding fame on the small screen, Faye had begun to carve out a successful career on stage, but, desperate to get her big break on TV, she knew she had to take the “ultimate risk” and turn down theatre opportunities.‌It paid off and, as Kate Connor, Faye was soon sharing the screen with Alison King, Kym Marsh, and X Factor winner Shayne Ward.“I was suddenly this household name, people knew who I was. I wasn’t Faye any more, I was being called Kate! And I relished it. I loved every second of my time there.” However, Faye insists that she could not have coped with overnight soap stardom without the support of her loving family.“It was like a whirlwind. I think I took it in my stride, but that’s down to my family as well, being so normal and calling me out if I was ever a diva. I needed that, so I didn’t ever lose sight of who I was. And then I was representing a character that people were looking up to. I had a responsibility,” Faye adds, candidly.‌On screen, Kate’s partner Rana (Bhavna Limbachia) was killed off in heartbreaking scenes when the Underworld factory roof collapsed on her on what was meant to be the couple’s wedding day. Amid the grief, Kate packed her bags and went travelling, and has not been seen since.Faye is thrilled that her own alter ego made it out of Weatherfield alive, though – and confesses, she would jump at the chance to return – on one condition.“It’s got to be worth it, because I’ve had so much joy playing other characters on stage that have really taught me something.”‌Post-Corrie, Faye took part in Dancing On Ice, where she reached the final – but, mainly, she’s been offering up glittering performances on stage in the likes of The Sound Of Music and Chicago.Now, she’s leading the cast in a new UK touring production of the musical Burlesque – based on the 2010 film that starred Cher as club owner Tess, who takes aspiring singer Ali (Christina Aguilera) under her wing.Chatting on a break from rehearsals, Faye says she can relate to the role of Tess, as it mirrors her own life in the limelight.‌“Tess has been grinding away and surviving for years in this club, and that is something I can absolutely relate to,” she says.“It’s echoed in this industry. I feel very passionate about that – I don’t think I will ever retire. I love that she is this empowering force, and commands the room whenever she’s in it – that is very liberating. It’s exciting to play.”‌Living out of a suitcase on tour, she admits, can be “tough” – but it’s a sacrifice she’s more than willing to make. “My glass isn’t half full, it’s overflowing,” she laughs. “A lot of people would love to tour. I’m never going to waste a second of that time.”It must be quite a daunting task to live up to pop icon Cher’s performance, but Faye admits she doesn’t even try. “I can never be Cher, but the fact that I get to play a role that she played is pretty fantastic.”And she’s clearly enjoying the ramped-up razzmatazz. “The stage version has even more diamonds, more numbers and more glitter!”Article continues belowFaye hopes the musical’s emotional storyline will resonate with a lot of women, but most of all, she delights in how much joy she can see the show bringing. You’re getting people of all shapes and sizes dancing their hearts out for a couple of hours and singing along to incredible songs. It’s a beautiful thing.”Faye Brookes is currently starring in the UK tour of Burlesque the Musical. For tickets and more information go to burlesqueonstage.comFollow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .