We didn't want people to be fearful of her and dislike her for the wrong reasons. The character is played actress, Julie Hesmondhalgh, who is assuredly not transsexual herself. [4] In the episode, Hayley takes her own life, after living with terminal pancreatic cancer. They then tried recording Alex confessing to being abusive, but he spotted the tape recorder and smashed it. After the initial surprise, most were supportive of Hayley, but some, such as Les Battersby, picked on her, while at work Linda Sykes tried to make her use the gents toilets, resulting in Mike stepping and forcing Linda to back down (although his intentions were only to get everyone back to work, rather than anything noble). The following day, Christian visits again and is stunned when Christian says she can see the children. In the summer, Hayley encountered Wayne Hayes and his mother Sheila in the Kabin and brought them to the cafe for lunch. Hayley continued to work throughout, insisting on giving herself a sense of normality and asking Roy not to mention the word cancer in her presence. In 1999, Alma was Matron of Honour at their wedding. Roy couldn't believe that Hayley wanted to take herself away from him earlier than her illness dictated and refused to support her. Hayley broached the possibility of having a legally-recognised wedding instead, as they had always intended to do once the law changed, but Roy opposed the idea because of the expense and his discomfort at expressing his feelings publicly. (The Daily Telegraph, 21st April 1998). In 2007, she enjoyed playing scenes of Hayley meeting her son Christian Gatley, although his existence went against known Street history which had established Hayley as a virgin. They have a wonderful time but their joy is cut short when they are told that Jane has been rushed to a hospice. Hayley insisted that he get a full health check, offering to go through one herself to encourage him. "But I don't want to be in authority. In 1999, the actress responded to suggestions that it was time to pack away her trusty anorak: "A charity shop sent me a new one the other week. The couple finally married on 30 August 2010 at a stately home in Cheshire, and almost everyone but the bride arrived by steam train. Roy gets suspicious when Tracy goes on holiday for 3 weeks and realizing how easy it would be for Tracy to disappear with the cash and the baby, Roy insists she marry him (giving him parental responsibility of the baby) or the deal is off. At the given address, they were met by Margaret Cropper, St. John's second wife, who informed them that her husband had recently passed away. Hayley realises that she has to tell Roy so goes home and tells Roy and Sylvia. Hayley is delighted but Roy tells Anna that he lied and feels he has betrayed her. Hayley's manner of dress was indicative of a woman older than her years. (Sunday Mirror, 8th March 1998) "The point about transsexuals is that they want to blend in. Hayley Cropper (also Harold Patterson and Hayley Patterson) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. This was followed by an upbeat music-filled wake in the Rovers. Hayley was so glad to have a friend that she started following Alma around and bought her an expensive sweater. Becky Granger entered Hayley's life when Becky started working at Underworld in 2006. Hayley was very non-confrontational, at least when dealing with bigots such as Les Battersby. (The Guardian, 17th January 1998) To widen the field of available talent, the decision was taken to have an actress play the part instead of a transgendered woman. Steeling herself, Hayley introduced herself to Christian, but for the moment she was too afraid to tell him who she really was. Hayley and Sylvia go but is devastated when Roy tells everyone that she has pancreatic cancer. Darren Miller [2] Her final scenes were filmed on 18 November 2013 [3] and aired on 22 January 2014. During their last conversation, Hayley thanked Carla for giving her three extra years of life. Just before she left, Hayley got into an argument with Tracy Barlow, standing her ground when Tracy made fun of her sexuality, although it revealed an insecurity in her that Roy didn't find her physically attractive. In order to know that Christian's feelings were genuine, Hayley didn't tell him about the cancer, and he delighted her by expressing his regret over hitting her six years prior and informing her that she had two grandchildren, Sam and Maisie. Comforted by Roy, she softened and told him that loving him had made her life worthwhile. They went on to be one of the longest-lasting couples in Coronation Street history, something which pleased the actors. Fiz takes Hayley and Roy to The Rovers and Hayley tells them that she gave Christian the money. Hayley is heartbroken when Becky decides to leave Weatherfield in January 2012 but gets a call a few months later, telling her that she is engaged to her new boyfriend. But a lot of people have said because it's been so true to Roy and Hayley, they've found it moving. One instance where this was a problem was when the Croppers were interviewed to assess their suitability as foster parents in December 2000. After . [7] Making her debut appearance on the show in January 1998, she played the first transgender character in a British soap opera. Feeling sorry for Hayley, Alma offered her the hand of friendship, although she was slightly disturbed when Hayley, having no other friends, latched on to her and started following her around. Over time, Hayley came to better understand her feelings about her mind and body and she decided to become physically a woman. In the middle of the ceremony, Tracy arrived and caused a scene by shouting for Roy, resulting in Steve having her ejected. I think the whole thing has been incredibly positive." Hayley was alarmed at her friend's rapid deterioration and revealed to a stunned Roy that she wanted to end her own life when the cancer spread, before her morphine dosage was high enough to make her delirious. The unlucky-in-love shop assistant, played by Cheryl Fergison, plucks up the courage to tell the mystery man hes become a father just hours after giving birth. [1] She was married to Roy Cropper (David Neilson). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. However, as other UK soaps such as Brookside and Hollyoaks had recently covered such storylines, the idea did not appeal to the team. Although disappointed in Christian's tactics, Hayley gave him the money and remarked to a disapproving Roy that she had no regrets. During his time on. But I think the anorak has got to stay - it's an institution! Following the screening of the "wedding" in 1999, the Labour Government announced that a Parliamentary Working Group was being created to assess how the United Kingdom could grant trans people the legal rights for which they had fought for decades. Later that year, they supported her when she had her miscarriages, and it was on Hayley's advice that the McDonalds turned to adoption. An Early Day Motion was also tabled in Parliament by Lynne Jones, MP, praising the story team and researchers, and Julie Hesmondhalgh for her portrayal.[17]. Hayley's only romantic relationship was with Roy Cropper. Hayley Patterson was devised as a young, shy woman who would fall for Street anorak Roy Cropper. In most aspects of their lives, they were a team, for example in their volunteer work and becoming first aiders. She usually wore a shirt and cardigan with a skirt, short hair, and for all of her sixteen years in the Street, she wore the same red anorak. The Croppers usually played a supportive role in her dramas, even those which were of her own making; in 2011, they convinced Dev and Sunita Alahan not to press charges against her for robbing the Corner Shop. Unable to return to Firman's Freezers, Hayley got a job at Underworld knicker factory when Roy won a bet with Mike Baldwin that Hayley could out-machine any of his girls. The Croppers were relieved when they were informed that Fiz had done similarly before, and there would be no action taken. Was Hayley cropper from corrie a man in real life? However, this was borne out of a desire to share his interests with his wife rather than selfishness, and Roy was also capable of more romantic gestures, with the occasional prompting from friends. Meeting with Christian on the pretence of showing him where Harold's ashes were scattered, Hayley finally told Christian that she was Harold. In July 2003, Hayley went to visit her ill Aunty Monica. A few months later, Fiz returned to the area, older and wiser, and apologised to the Croppers for being rotten to them. In October 2012, when Mary won tickets to the United States in a competition, she gave them to Roy and Hayley so that they could visit Sylvia, who was temporarily staying with her companion Milton Fanshaw in Palm Springs, California. Hayley made her own dress, while the train was made by the other girls and presented to her at her hen party at No.5, with Janice Battersby selling Les's records to pay for it. In revenge, Les tipped off a reporter about the wedding between "two blokes". Hayley secretly does not like the new wallpaper but keeps quiet so she does not upset Roy. Roy returns without Hayley, who is caring for Sylvia as she isn't well. Traumatised by the incident, Roy's sleepwalking episodes intensified, and on one occasion the cafe smoke alarm went off when Roy cooked in his sleep. They are arrested for kidnap and Hayley is held on remand for objecting to her bail conditions but is released when Wayne's mother makes a statement about her marriage. The woman that inspired Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper has spoken publicly about being transgender for the first time. David Neilson has appeared to confirm he wont return as Roy Cropper on Coronation Street. Ben's identity as a gay man, from bullied schoolboy to revenge-seeking hardman to fianc, has always been tied to his plot lines and his popularity. A week after the birth, Hayley was serving as a bridesmaid to Karen McDonald at her and Steve's second wedding. They watch the CCTV footage and it proves that Roy is behind all of the rearranged furniture. Roy was especially closed, but as he left to go back the UK, he gave her an engraved gold watch. 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