Julie Goodyear went to extreme measures to brighten her co-star's days during debilitating cancer treatment.
The Coronation Street actress, 81, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last year, was a huge support to ITV soap star and close friend Beverley Callard when she needed a hysterectomy at the age of 33. Beverley, who played Liz McDonald, later praised Julie, who played Bet Lynch, for her heartwarming help.
Bev said she was inundated with sympathy and support from her co-stars, but it was Julie's sense of humour that really saw her through. At the time, she had an 18-month-old baby and said she would often lie awake at night crying and wondering if her womanhood was coming to an end. But Julie had the exact tonic she needed.
Julie and Beverley starred in Corrie together (Daily Mirror)
Julie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last year (Thousand Word Media/Antony Thompson)Bev told the Daily Star: "Julie Goodyear was fantastic. I'd had loads of people saying, 'Oh, you poor thing,' and that just makes you feel worse than ever. But Julie had a different approach. One day I was in my dressing room and I heard this knocking on the door. When I went to open it, Julie was standing there wearing a balaclava. 'What are you doing?' I said.
"'Just thought you needed something to make you laugh', she giggled. Julie came and sat down in my dressing room and said, 'Listen, I've had a hysterectomy and you're going to be fine, but let me tell you this - afterwards you're going to s**g like a snow leopard'. We both fell about giggling." Bev had the surgery and returned to Corrie as Britain's much-loved barmaid.
Helen Flanagan battles to save NYE plans after 'poo explosion' in her car
Speaking to the Mirror about her recovery, Bev said she 'cracked on' with filming. Recalling one of her first scenes back, she said: "I'll never forget, I had to hold a crate of empty bottles in the room and pretend that I'd come out of the cellar with this crate of empty bottles and put it on the bar. And I just did it. I just did it. Because that's what we women do, don't we? You know, my job was everything to me."
Meanwhile, Julie was diagnosed with dementia last year. Her husband Scott said in a statement at the time: "My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heartbreaking diagnosis. Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance, but we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation - and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse."
He added: "We have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out. Inevitably she is recognised, and fans love to meet her - and she them - but she can get confused particularly if she is tired. I hope people will understand." The couple has since taken part in Alzheimer's Society Memory Walks.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
