Coronation Street’s Faye Brookes reveals she believes boyfriend Gareth Gates came into her life for a reason but they won’t be tying the knot any time soon
The actress also opens up on her battles with anxiety and how she is in awe of former Corrie star Michelle Keegan
FAYE Brookes is trying very hard to contain her excitement.
Not only has the Coronation Street actress just returned from a romantic weekend away with boyfriend Gareth Gates, but she actually can’t wait to get back to her day job.
In fact, she’s so excited to be in the swing of things again, she dances around the studio between shots with a huge grin plastered across her face.
It’s tiring enough just to watch, but for Faye, 29, who plays lesbian waitress Kate Connor, this joie de vivre simply comes from getting to live her dream.
“Acting was a big ambition of mine from an early age. Corrie is valued by so many loyal viewers who have watched it for years, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I got the job and was told I was going in as a Connor. I still have ‘pinch me’ moments,” she says.
It’s no wonder, considering the impact she’s made since joining the ITV soap in October 2015. She has become a gay icon after proudly flying the flag for the LGBTQ community, and was awarded Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards in January.
Combine Faye’s meteoric rise to stardom with her pretty elfin face and Bambi eyes, and it’s not surprising that comparisons have been made with former Corrie actress Michelle Keegan, who has since gone on to have starring roles in dramas Our Girl and Tina And Bobby.
Funnily enough, Faye doesn’t mind. “I get that all the time, and it’s the biggest compliment ever!” she says. “I’m in awe of Michelle and if I could have the career she’s had after Corrie, it would be amazing. She’s a beautiful and empowering woman.
“She’s done so well and I’m really pleased for her. She’s also got a very public relationship [with husband Mark Wright], which I can relate to.”
That’s because for the past three and a half years, Faye has been in a relationship with singer-turned-actor Gareth Gates, after they met playing on-stage lovers in the UK tour of Legally Blonde The Musical in July 2012.
But despite the former Pop Idol star, 32, having quite the fan club during his noughties heyday, Faye wasn’t sold at first.
“When we met, I was so focused on my job that I wasn’t bothered and thought: ‘Gareth Gates, who?’ I was like that because I was a Will Young fan.
“When Gareth walked on stage, he was wearing double denim and I said to myself: ‘Who does he think he is?’”
Fortunately for Gareth, he made a better impression on Faye when later that year they were both cast in a Sleeping Beauty pantomime (she was Princess Aurora and he, of course, was her Prince Charming).
“It was a real fairy tale – I totally believe in fate and that he was meant to walk into my life for a reason. He became my best friend and it blossomed into us becoming this unbelievable duo,” she grins.
“He was the one person who allowed me to let my guard down – for me to be silly, laugh at myself and not take life too seriously.”
And as if to prove just how in tune they are, Faye’s phone suddenly starts to ring, and it’s Gareth seeing how she is. It’s clear they’re smitten.
The pair have discussed marriage, but at the moment Faye says that they both want to concentrate on their careers.
“We’ve talked about it. And that day will come, I’m sure of it, but that’s not for now. “Every Valentine’s Day the conversation comes up. I’m like: ‘Listen, I’m totally career-driven,’ and he knows that.
“I’ve found the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with and if he does propose, then it’s going be a complete surprise.”
The couple share a flat in London, but with Faye working away in Manchester during the week (she’s just bought a one-bed flat close to the Coronation Street studios) they have to make the most of the 48 hours they get to spend together at weekends.
However, as Gareth is now starring in the theatre tour of Footloose The Musical, this precious time will be out the window for the next five months.
“We have the craziest life, as we’ve been living out of suitcases for the majority of it. I don’t know how we’ve made it work,” she says. “Gareth goes off and does his thing and he lets me go and do my thing. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if I had somebody completely different.
My career is more important than marriage
Faye Brookes
“If someone didn’t get me or didn’t understand this world, then I don’t think I would be in a relationship. But Gareth’s happy to, you know, be on my arm and not just have me on his.
He wants me to be in the limelight. “Like any couple, we’re human and it’s hard. We have to deal with the bad times and relish the good.”
The bad times could be seen as a reference to the fact Gareth announced the end of his four-year marriage to dancer Suzanne Mole in October 2012 just weeks after pictures emerged of him on a night out with Faye.
It’s something Faye politely declines to talk about. “I’d rather not, because it’s so long ago. I don’t need to clear anything up.”
But she says the split from his wife meant she and Gareth proceeded with caution and only went public with their romance in August 2013.
“His situation at the time was difficult and I needed to let them sort it out,” Faye says. “I didn’t want anything to do with that, so I let them go through their journey. Divorce is nasty and can be a struggle.
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We took it slowly.” Faye and Gareth have been together for over three years This was particularly true when it came to being introduced to eight-year-old Missy, Gareth’s daughter by Suzanne.
“I didn’t meet his little girl for a year or two. I didn’t want her to think that I was anything but her friend – and we still are [behaving like friends].
“I respect the hell out of Missy’s mum and idolise Gareth’s little girl, as she’s half of him.” Blended families can be a delicate balance at the best of times and Faye is well aware of this.
It’s the only time during our chat that her fizzy enthusiasm fades and she takes on a more serious persona.
“I don’t think it’s easy, but I also wouldn’t have it any other way. Missy is a dream. I love watching her grow and we have a great relationship.
“She really laughs with us and knows that she can be silly. I know she loves being with me because I think she finds that she can tell me things and trust me.”
Faye has set screens alight in the 18 months that she’s been on Corrie. She’s become firm friends with the likes of Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt) and cobbles legend Bill Roache (Ken Barlow).
Her character Kate is a member of the hugely popular Connor family, and she has proven to be a welcome addition, with high-profile storylines including her turbulent relationship with soap villain Caz Hammond (played by Rhea Bailey) and that kiss with actress Brooke Vincent’s character Sophie Webster.
“I wanted Kate to be real and someone who every girl could relate to, so the fact that her sexuality is accepted by her Corrie family means that it isn’t a taboo issue. That message is so positive,” she says.
“I’ve had fans write in saying that Kate being accepted has given them the confidence to tell their parents – and to me that speak volumes.”
Faye has taken the fame and responsibility that comes with being on one of the country’s top soaps in her stride.
Then again, she does have Gareth – who shot to fame at the age of 17 after coming runner-up on Pop Idol and went on to sell over 3.5 million records in the UK alone – to turn to if she ever needs advice. “There’s a massive responsibility [being in the public eye] and he gets it.
He understands that you want to protect yourself, but at the same time you don’t want people to think you don’t care. He’s letting me find my feet and respecting my huge career change,” she says. “He’s very humble and grounded – and that’s something I take from him.”
Another person helping her navigate the ups and downs of fame is Faye’s co-star Kym Marsh, 40, who plays Michelle Connor and was herself catapulted into the public eye when she won a role in Hear’Say, the band put together on ITV’s reality show Popstars in 2001.“We share a dressing room and she’s like my mother – she really looks out for me.
You can see by her reaction when I won the NTA – it was probably better than mine – that she was so happy for me!” she laughs. “It’s nice to have that in the crazy world we’re in.
“She’s taught me not to take it too seriously and to laugh at myself. I always listen to Kym when she says there may be a pace to work to, but you’ve got to breathe and take your time. I come with so much energy that I sort of speed through those moments.” Faye’s passion for perfection has its downfalls, as in the past it has resulted in her battling with anxiety.
“I’ve majorly suffered and haven’t met any person who hasn’t gone through something like that in our world. I’m such a people-pleaser and adamant about making it right.“I’m my biggest critic – I’m the first person to say if I’ve gained weight and I can’t take a compliment.
Actresses are the most insecure beings. “I’ve worked so hard to get here, but sometimes I can take myself a bit too seriously because that’s my work ethic.
I’m working really hard on getting it right and that’s when I become really competitive with myself. “I get overwhelmed and give this energy like 100%.
I’m all or nothing and there are extremes with my personality. I just need a minute, so when I do get down time from Corrie I utilise it.”
This all or nothing personality is what has propelled her to where she is now. She was brought up in Manchester with her holistic therapist mum Inger, 58, engineer dad Carl, 58, and restaurant manager younger brother Jack, as well as two older sisters Nicky and Jodie.
From an early age Faye dreamed of being a star, and started acting “terribly” at eight years old in summer theatre courses, before later landing a place at the Guildford School of Acting to study a musical theatre degree.
“Nothing was handed to me.My parents couldn’t afford for me to go, so I wrote a begging letter explaining my circumstances and being very honest about not being able to afford it.
They said they would love to give me a scholarship and I spent three days auditioning.” During her studies Faye relentlessly auditioned for parts, supplementing her income by working on a make-up counter and in a bar, and giving kids acting lessons.
Before she graduated, she made her West End debut in 2009 as Frenchy in Grease The Musical and went on to appear in a string of theatre productions before she and her agent decided she should concentrate on TV roles. She landed Corrie soon after.
And all the auditioning means she is well-versed in rejection. “I can count on my hand how many jobs I’ve got compared to the umpteen rejections I’ve had. It’s a given, but I would still cry myself to sleep.
You’ve got to mourn it and then move on and seize the next day.” This refreshingly resourceful attitude was instilled at a young age when Faye’s brother Jack was diagnosed with leukaemia.
At the time he was nine and Faye 14. “We didn’t know if he was going to survive. That was the awful thing,” she says. “We caught it early and he went straight into chemo and had a bone marrow transplant. “My parents were shocked and always tried to protect me.
They wanted to distract me, so they thought it was best to push me in the direction of ‘let her pursue whatever she wants.’
They knew how close I was to Jack and how hard it was for me to see him like that. “One of the worst days was when he came home and pulled all his hair out and put it on my bed. I broke down because I didn’t realise he was dealing with that every day.” Fortunately, Faye’s brother survived and has been in remission for seven years, since he was 18.
It hugely impacted her outlook on life and she is planning to run the London Marathon next year to raise money for , which helped the family.
“The one question you ask yourself if you have a family member who has cancer is why them and not me? I now say to him: ‘I’m so grateful you have a second chance at life, don’t waste it.’”
“I think it made my family a hell of a lot tighter. We went through that struggle and came out the other side. It made us all better people. Now we appreciate life.”
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