The 8 stars you forgot were in Coronation Street before finding fame – from BAFTA nominee to a Dame

The Sun

04-05-2025

CORONATION Street has produced many famous faces since it first hit our screens back in 1960.
So who's starred in the cast of Coronation Street and gone on to great things?
Here's everything you need to know about which former stars have been catapulted to stardom and some of them will surprise you.
Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest spoilers, pictures and gossip from the cobbles.
Stephen Graham
8
Stephen Graham is a huge megastar and well known for his numerous TV shows and films.
Including Netflix 's Adolescence, Peaky Blinders, Line of Duty, A Thousand Blows and Venom.
But did you know he appeared on Coronation Street back in 1999 as Lee Sanky, one of Steve McDonald's mates?
Lee had run in with Jim for getting Steve involved in drug dealing and Graham's younger brother Aston Kelly also appeared on Coronation Street in 2018 as PC Saffer.
Joe Gilgun
8
But he made his debut at the age of ten in Coronation Street as Jamie Armstrong - the son of Tricia Armstrong.
Cheeky and streetwise, Jamie wasn't afraid to use dirty tricks to get some hands on some extra cash.
But everyone laughed when Mike Baldwin was attempting to turf the Armstrongs out of their house and Jamie throw a chamber pot full of water on his head.
Michael Ball Corrie
Dame Joanna Lumley
8
The nation's sweetheart is best known for her roles in Absolutely Fabulous, The New Avengers, Sapphire and Steel and On her Majesty's Service.
She also appeared recently in the Netflix series Fool Me Once, but she strolled the famous cobbles as Elaine Perkins for three weeks in 1973.
Elaine Perkins was the graduate daughter of Bessie Street School headmaster Wilfred Perkins and one-time love of Ken Barlow during his teaching days.
But Ken liked Elaine more than she liked him and when he called her permissive with other men, she called him a stiff provincial twit.
Ralf Little
8
Ralf is best known for his role as DI Neville Parker in Death in Paradise, as well as The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
But he also featured in several episodes of Coronation Street in 1999 as Mark Stranks an assistant at retirement home run by the penny pinching Gerald Lickley.
When Martin Platt went for an interview at the home, it was Mark who showed him round on Lickley's instruction, having been told to impress him.
June Brown
8
EastEnders icon June was best known as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera and for her roles in Dr Who, Minder and The Duchess of Duke Street to name a few.
But before her time in Albert Square, June had a stint on the cobbles as Mrs Parsons who paid a visit to Ena Sharples when Ena took an interest in her son Tony's talent with the harmonium in August 1970.
Mrs Parsons didn't want to encourage Tony musically and was prepared for an argument with Ena, but Ena only wanted to know why she was so against Tony pursuing a career in music.
After her chat with Ena, Mrs Parsons let Tony accept a scholarship at a music college. The following year, she and Ena went together to Tony's first public concert at the college.
Anna Friel
8
Anna is best known for her roles in Marcello. Deep Water, Monarch and Limitless amongst others.
But in 1991, Anna showed up on the cobbles as Belinda Johnson, the best friend of Vicky McDonald, Steve's first wife.
When Vicky's parents were killed in a car crash in Whitby in 1991, the girls planned to have Vicky move into Belinda's house until the idea was quashed by Belinda's parents.
However, Belinda and Vicky remained friends and Vicky used Belinda as an Albi for courting Steve McDonald.
Sir Ian McKellen
8
Award winning British Icon, Ian McKellen is one of the biggest names to ever walk along the Street's cobbles and yes he was famous before.
He has starred in several huge movies, including The Lord of the Rings, The X-Men franchise and The Da Vinci Code.
Sir Ian has also shone in major theatre roles such as Macbeth, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
But back in 2005 he played con artist Mel Hutchwright and took advantage of anyone who would fall for his tricks.
From Emily and Norris to Roy and Audrey, Mel conned as many as he could in the street's book club but Ken saved the day when he called him out on his tricks.
Michael Ball
8
Michael is a recording artist, actor and musical theatre star, best known for his roles in Les Miserables, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd.
But back in 1985, Michael played the role of tennis coach Malcolm Nuttall in Coronation Street.
Malcolm was dating Michelle Robinson before she met Kevin Webster, and viewers were treated to a feisty altercation between the pair.
Watch the above video to see what happened on the tennis court.