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GOODBYE CHAVVY CHIC, HELLO HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR. SOAP’S LEADING LADIES HAVE NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD – AND IT’S ALL IN ORDER TO GET YOUR VOTES AT THE NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS

Interviews by Claie Wilson and Eimear O’Hagan photography by Drew Gardne

CORONATION STREET

Name: Katherine Kelly
Age: 29
Soap: Coronation Street
Plays: Gobby barmaid Becky Granger

Best soap moment

When my character Becky punched Hayley's son Christian for hitting his mum. We were rolling around and fighting in a record shop with Pete Doherty playing in the background. It felt very rock ‘n' roll.

What would Becky say if she saw you dressed like this?

That I looked old. Becky has her own vibe going on when it comes to clothes and if you're wearing an outfit that doesn't have your boobs or legs out she'd consider it something an old woman would wear.

If you weren't doing this job, what would you be doing?

My family are in the health service and I used to have a Saturday job in a residential care looking after elderly people, so I would probably have gone down that route.

Are you in a relationship?

I've been with my partner for four and a half years. We met when we were both acting in the Royal Shakespeare Company together. But that's all I can say or he'll b*llock me!

You're most likely to be found gossiping on set with…

Usually Julie Hesmondhalgh who played Hayley but she's been away for a year, so instead it's been David Neilsen who plays her husband Roy. Julie and I are real chatterboxes, at school my report always said, ‘Katherine would do well if she just stopped talking‘.

The funniest thing I've read about myself is…

That I was earning £100,000 a year. If any of us were on that we would never leave! I get a nice wage but it's no more than my friends who are school teachers.

If I wasn't playing Becky I'd love to play…

Norris as he‘s such a classic Coronation Street character. He pops up everywhere and has an opinion on everything. We all know someone like him, so it would be a great part to play.

What's your top beauty tip?

Don't bother buying expensive exfoliators, just mix some sugar and olive oil in a bowl and rub it all over. Your skin will glow for days.

Worst soap moment

When Becky recently had a row with Roy and she was really mean and even called him a freak. When I saw the script, I thought how I am going to do get away with this. It was difficult because I didn't want her to be mean to Roy.

Do you think your looks have helped you get a career in TV?

I have a versatile face, which means I have been cast in very different roles, I've gone from being a princess with the Royal Shakespeare Company to a junkie in a shell suit for a film. I've got one of those faces that can look good, but can look really crap as well.

Who's your soap pin up?

I didn't really have one growing up, but I suppose I would say Craig Charles who plays Lloyd in the show-but maybe when he was a bit younger, in his Red Dwarf days. I always go for humour and he makes us laugh all the time.

My top night out would be…

A slap up meal, then a really good film at the pictures where I would eat a nice box of pick and mix, followed by a couple of drinks and then to bed with a lie in the morning. That's my idea of heaven.

The best thing about this job is…

Playing Becky. She has so many twists and turns, I never have a dull day. .

How do you keep in shape?

I try to go to the gym three times a week which means I can generally eat what I want-especially tea and biscuits-as I burn it off. My great grandmother used to say a little bit of what you fancy does you good and she's right.

What is your top beauty tip?

Get a great hairdresser. I've been to loads and finally found one that works for me, called James Roberts. His salon makes sure the cut suits rather than plonking a style on you.

Name: Helen Flanagan
Age: 18
Soap: Coronation Street
Plays: Teen temptress Rosie Webster

Worst soap moment

When I was 10, my on-screen mum Sally was trying to get Rosie into drama school so made her practise singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow for her audition. I was the worst singer so it was really embarrassing.

What would Rosie say if she saw you dressed like this?

I think she would be quite nasty and say I look really pale! Deep down she would love to wear a dress like this, but instead would be mean because she's jealous.

Do you think your looks helped you get a career in TV?

When I joined the cast I was nine and a proper geeky looking kid, with mousy hair and rabbit teeth-so probably not!

The funniest thing I have read about myself is…

That I was going out with the footballer Mika Richards. Apparently we were moving in together-I'd never even met the man!

Are you in a relationship?

I have been with my boyfriend Danny Scott, who's a builder, for about five months and we're about to move in together. It will be the first time I will have lived away from home, but we're not moving far from my mum-I'll be there for tea, still.

My top night out would be…

Going to the posh Lounge Ten restaurant in Manchester. I love getting all dressed up and going for a nice meal with Danny. After, we'd stay in a hotel for the night-there's something very glamorous about staying in a swanky hotel.

How do you keep in shape?

Shopping! I love my food and think it's more important to enjoy life rather than be on a constant diet. But if I have a special occasion when I want to look good, I just cut down on food and go for a swim.

What's your top beauty tip?

Know that you're not perfect and learn to love your flaws. If you do that you will instantly be more beautiful as your happiness will show on your face.

Best soap moment

When the Websters went to Paris in 2006. I loved being there, it was like we were doing our own mini film.

If wasn't playing Rosie I'd love to play…

A geeky character, so perhaps Roy Cropper. That would be great as he's so different to Rosie. I'd also like to play a proper chav-that would be cool!

You're most likely to be found gossiping on set with…

Sally Whittaker who plays my mum. Even though she's older, I don't feel like a kid when we chat as she has never babied me, we‘re really good friends.

If you weren't doing this job what would you be doing?

I have no idea. I love being an actress and think that I always will be one.

Who's your soap pin up?

I'm really boring, I don't have one. They are loads of good looking guys in the soaps, but as a lot of them are friends I don't really see them like that. Ryan Thomas who plays Jason Grimshaw is really good looking but he's more of an older brother to me.

The best thing about this job is…

Getting to hang out every day with people you like. We‘re like a family and I feel so comfortable being part of it.

What is your top beauty tip?

I think everyone looks healthier with a nice tan. It makes your eyes brighter, legs look slimmer and skin healthier. But I'd never use a sunbed especially as I'm fair skinned. Instead I use St Tropez or L'Oreal Sublime to give me an all over glow.

Name: Michelle Keegan
Age: 21
Soap: Coronation Street
Plays: Minxy madam Tina Macintyre

Best soap moment

When I first appeared on Coronation Street in January this year. My first scenes saw me having a row with Gail Platt (Helen Worth) in the health centre. I arrived with a bang which was just how I wanted it to be.

Worst soap moment

My abortion storyline was very difficult and nerve-wracking to play. I was conscious that there might have been young women watching who were in similar situations, so I tried to really understand how they would feel.

What would Tina say if she saw you dressed like this?

She'd say, ‘what the hell's going on? Where's your jeans and converse, and your hoop earrings?'

Do you think you're looks help you get a career in TV?

No, definitely not. It's about whether your heart's in it or not, not about what you look like. Soaps are about real people and in real life everyone comes in all shapes and sizes.

Who's your soap pin up?

It has to be Jason Donovan. When he was in Neighbours I was completely in love with him. I still have one of his albums.

Who are you most likely to be found gossiping on set with?

Jack Shepherd who plays my on-screen boyfriend David Platt and Jonny Dixon who plays our friend Darryl Morton. We shoot a lot of our scenes together and we're also good mates off camera. They like to pick on me and wind me up, but I can hold my own.

The best thing about my job is…

Getting up in the morning and looking forward to going to work rather than dreading it like I used to in my old job working as a sales assistant in Selfridges.

If I wasn't playing Tina, I'd love to play…

Becky. Her character is amazing, there's a real comedy side to it but she's also very vulnerable and fragile.

What's your top beauty tip?

I have very sensitive skin so I avoid expensive moisturisers as I find them too heavy, instead I use Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream.

If you weren't doing this job, what would you be doing?

I honestly don't know. I've always wanted to be an actress, I've never wanted to do anything else.

Are you in a relationship?

I am going out with someone, but it's still early days. He's not an actor and it's nice to be with someone who doesn't work in the same industry. The last thing I want to do is be on set all day then come home and talk shop all night.

The funniest thing I've ever read about myself is…

I was going to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. I've never been asked to do it, and although I would never say never, at the moment I just want to focus on my acting.

My top night out would be…

Getting my girlfriends round to my house for a few drinks, then going to a bar for some cheap shots, then hit the dance floor at a big nightclub.

What's your top beauty tip?

Try to drink plenty of water.

How do you keep in shape?

I've just joined the gym but I've hardly been, I absolutely hate it and can always find an excuse not to go. It's hard to find time in between filming, especially when I'm doing night shoots-well that's my excuse anyway!

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: DREW GARDNER STYLING: ANGIE SMITH (ANGIESMITH.CO.UK) SAMMY WEARS DRESS BY KYRI; KARA WEARS DRESS BY DAY BIRGER AT MIKKELSEN; TIANA WEARS DRESS BY KYRI; JENNA-LOUISE WEARS CORSET AND SKIRT BY KYRI, SHOES BY ZARA; MICHELLE WEARS DRESS BY KYRI; KATHERINE WEARS DRESS BY JASPER CONRAN; CHARLOTTE WEARS DRESS BY JASPER CONRAN; LACEY WEARS DRESS BY MARCHESA AT KOH SAMUI; HELEN WEARS DRESS BY KYRI, SHOES BY RED OR DEAD PHOTOGRAPHY: BBC, ITV HAIR: GUY KREMER, KAREN MASON AT MANDY COAKLEY USING BUMBLE & BUMBLE MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI AT TIME, PASCAL MARIN STYLING: ANGIE SMITH (ANGIESMITH.CO.UK) SAMMY WEARS DRESS BY COAST; MICHELLE WEARS DRESS BY JASPER CONRAN; LACEY WEARS DRESS BY MARCHESA AT KOH SAMUI JENNA-LOUISE WEARS DRESS BY LITTLEWOODS DIRECT; KATHERINE WEARS DRESS BY JASPER CONRAN; HELEN AND KARA BOTH WEAR DRESSES BY KYRI TIANA WEARS DRESS BY MARCHESA AT KOH SAMUI; CHARLOTTE WEARS DRESS BY BELL AND BUNTY