Claire Sweeney, beloved for her role as Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street, recently gave fans a glimpse into a painful personal moment, sharing a photo on Instagram of her severely bruised and swollen ankle. The image, which showed her foot wrapped in a bandage and visibly discoloured, was captioned, ‘Does anyone else have one of those weeks when everything goes wrong. Mine’s started like this.’ Suggesting a difficult day without going into detail about how the injury occurred.
Though the cause remains unclear, the response from fans was immediate and full of concern. Many sent messages of support and sympathy, praising the actress for her resilience, something she’s demonstrated time and time again, both on and off the screen.
This isn’t the first time Sweeney has powered through pain. Earlier this year, she competed on Dancing on Ice and suffered a series of nasty injuries during rehearsals, including a dislocated shoulder and sprained ribs.
Despite the physical toll, she insisted on performing, taking to the ice for a burlesque routine to ‘Hey Big Spender.’ With last-minute changes to accommodate her injuries, she delivered the routine with grit and determination, though she ultimately exited the competition after receiving one of the lowest scores of the evening.
Her appearance on Dancing on Ice added another chapter to a long and diverse career that began in her early twenties. Sweeney rose to fame as Lindsey Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap Brookside. Her career expanded into musical theatre, with standout performances in Chicago, Guys and Dolls, and Hairspray. She also released a top-20 album in 2002 and has appeared in various presenting and acting roles across British television.
In 2023, she made her debut on Coronation Street, playing Cassie Plummer, the troubled mother of Tyrone Dobbs. Cassie’s storyline has been filled with dramatic twists, including secret addictions, deception, and a complicated relationship with her estranged son. Her character has brought an emotional edge to the soap, and Claire’s portrayal has earned praise for the multitalented star.
One particularly emotional scene saw Cassie pretending to be a carer for Ken Barlow while secretly drugging him and running up charges on his credit card. The confrontation between Cassie and Ken, played by soap veteran William Roache, left fans reeling and praising both stars’ performances.
At 52, Claire Sweeney is continuing to break boundaries, taking on challenging roles and pushing through physical obstacles that would sideline many.
Whether it’s a painful injury or a complex character arc, Claire Sweeney approaches it all with the same unwavering spirit. Her recent post may have shown a bruised ankle, but it also highlighted her strength, a trait that has defined her decades-long career and won her the admiration of fans across the UK.
