Life as an actor isn’t always as glamorous as it appears on-screen.
Some of the biggest names in showbiz are forced to follow gruelling schedules and intense scrutiny – and the same can be said for some of your favourite soap stars.
Acting isn’t always a secure career option, with many actors often working part-time jobs during the early days of their careers.
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Coronation Street stars are no exception, and there have been a lot of success stories that have come out of it.
Now, Daily Star has taken a look at some of the jobs our favourite ITV stars worked before they found fame on the ITV cobbles.
Let’s take a look…
Beloved Teacher
Loyal fans of the ITV soap will remember Vicky Binns through her role as Molly Dobbs who married Tyrone Dobbs, began a secret affair with his best friend Kevin Webster and even became pregnant with his baby Jack.
The actress was already a familiar face on our TV screens after she starred in the popular children’s programme Children’s Ward from 1998 to 1999.
From there it was onwards and upwards for the soap star, who landed roles in Casualty, Crime Stories, The Mill, Moving On and Doctors.
Eagle-eyed soap fans might also recognise Vicky from another popular ITV soap, Emmerdale when she played Olivia ‘Ollie’ Reynolds for over four years between 1999 to 2003.
It wasn’t until a few years later that Vicky arrived on the famous cobbles where she landed her now famous role as Molly Dobbs.
It wasn’t until she left the soap in 2010 that she took on a ‘normal job’ as an acting teacher.
Things only went from bad to worse for the TV star after her upcoming role in a theatre production was forced to close in 2020 when lockdown measures were brought into place.
She previously opened up about her career U-turn to Scarborough News, where she revealed that she also worked as a primary school teacher during the pandemic.
Since then, the actress has gone on to brighter things and most recently landed a role in the latest series of Black Mirror on Netflix.
She played the role of the barmaid in Demon 79, which follows a shy sales assistant who must commit terrible acts to prevent Armageddon.
Ice-cream salesman
Another actor who isn’t afraid to put the hours in before landing his infamous role on Coronation Street is none other than David Nielson.
Before he was launched to fame on the soap, the star previously held down many part-time jobs in order to pay the bills.
This included working as an ice cream salesman, a barman and a gas fitter to fund his dream of becoming an actor while studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama in the heart of London.
During an interview with Mike Plowman in 1996, the soap star explained: “I have worked as a gas fitter, plumber, ice cream salesman and barman.
“Since becoming an actor I have also had stints as a theatre director, taught at RADA, Central and Rose Brudford and written plays.”
David appeared on a few TV shows before he had his big break as Roy, including property buyer Mr Webster who was interested in purchasing Nick Cotton’s home on rival soap EastEnders.
The actor also made appearances in Young at Heart, Blue Heaven by Frank Skinner, Casualty, and Heartbeat, before he took on the famous role of Roy Cropper.
Theatre steward
Another Coronation Street star who also holds a part-time job is Adam Blease – who played Dirk van der Stek on the long-running soap.
Fans will remember him as the cheeky Underworld worker who was a firm show regular on the cobbles.
But despite putting a smile on viewers faces on the show each night, he also has a second job which he has had for more than 16 years.
Adam also works front of house at the Manchester Opera House, welcoming theatre goers every weekend for the latest show-stopping performances touring the UK.
Most recently, Adam was seen in a photo on the official Instagram page when the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race visited the venue.
He captioned the post: “RuPaul’s Drag Race Tour is my favourite night of the year! Always a fabulous company to welcome into The Opera House!”
The actor finally left the soap back in 2018 after years on the ITV soap, and still continues to work in the theatre business.
Café worker
Ruxandra Porojnicu had just £300 to her name when she first arrived in the UK, but it didn’t take long before she bagged a job of a lifetime on the ITV soap.
Before she took on the role of trafficked worker Alina Pop, she worked as a waitress at a local café in Manchester, and even continued working in the eatery alongside her prestigious acting gig.
In 2019, the actress took to Twitter to open up about her normal job away from the cameras.
She told fans: “I worked all summer in a café, and I will keep this job for as long as I can while also going up to Manchester and film.
“And yes, it wasn’t east after 6 months of living any actor’s dream to work on set full time. I wanted to quit, and I cried a lot because it’s so stressful working in customer service!
“Also, I couldn’t believe I have to do it again. Imagine having a family to take care of! Is not easy being constantly with or without a job. Is true it affects your mental health as an actor!!”
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She went on: “But hey! There was no alternative right away, didn’t know what the future will bring and I couldn’t just wait without doing anything.
“There’s no shame in working. I would rather feel ashamed being lazy and complain I don’t have money or ask my family to provide for me.”
After two years on the soap, the brunette beauty left the soap in 2021 and moved on to bigger and better things, most recently making her stage debut in the London based show, Stray Dogs.
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