Helen Flanagan Criticizes Coronation Street for Sexualizing Her as a Teenager

Helen Flanagan has spoken out about her time on the long-running soap opera Coronation Street, criticizing how the show handled her character, Rosie Webster.

In a recent interview, the 35-year-old actress revealed her discomfort with the storylines producers assigned her when she was only 16 years old.

She described how the show made her "parade around in knickers" and portrayed her as a "mad nymphomaniac" at such a young age.

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Helen joined the show when she was nine and spent over a decade playing Rosie, but she now views the early sexualization of her character as inappropriate.

The mother of three explained that while she loved her time on the cobbles, she wishes the writers had taken a different approach to her character's development.

She noted that the intense focus on her appearance and the provocative nature of her scenes put a lot of pressure on her during her teenage years.

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Helen believes that young actors today should have more protection and that shows should avoid sexualizing children for ratings.

Her comments have sparked a conversation online about the treatment of child stars in the television industry.

Since leaving the show, Helen has focused on her family and various reality television appearances, but her latest remarks highlight a long-standing issue in soap operas.

She mentioned that the "hyper-sexualized" image she was forced to maintain followed her for years even after she moved on from the role.

By speaking out now, she hopes to encourage more transparency and better mental health support for young performers who might face similar situations.

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Coronation Street producers have not yet issued a formal response to Helen’s specific criticisms.

However, the show has previously stated that it takes the welfare of its cast seriously and adheres to strict guidelines regarding child actors.

As Helen continues to share her experiences, her story serves as a reminder of the potential impact that early fame and certain character choices can have on a young person's life and career.