Coronation Street's latest star Melissa Johns has said she hopes her role as flirtatious newcomer Imogen will "break new ground" for actors with disabilities.
The 27-year-old actress and campaigner makes her debut on the cobbles tonight, catching the eye of Kate Connor (Faye Brookes) while on a night out with Rana.
Johns admits the gig is a long-time dream come true and she hopes it will open TV viewers' minds to seeing more disabled actors on screens.
The star, who does not have a lower right arm, told the Press Association: "Imogen is pretty flirty, she's got attitude, and she can be quite feisty and sarcastic, which I love.
"Way too often actors with disabilities, when we do eventually get cast in stuff, we're not always given that much personality; it's almost as if people think the disability is enough.
"So having this feisty, sexual character is just brilliant, and it's exactly what's needed (to promote) the equality of actors with disabilities and break through this mould of getting our representation on screens and stages."
Thank you @wintersons
— Melissa Johns (@Melissa_Clare_J) July 7, 2017
I couldn't be happier to be joining the cast @itvcorrie
Thank you for all of your lovely comments and support ❤️ https://t.co/SZwFQJwce1
Describing how she used to assume that her disability would hold her back from securing roles, she added: "Now I see that I am an actor with a purpose and to be able to do something that I love and at the same time be breaking new ground is an absolute honour."
You can catch Melissa making her Coronation Street debut tonight on TV3 at 7pm.
