Inside Coronation Street's Vicky Myers' life away from ITV show including brave cancer battle

Coronation Street actress Vicky Myers was diagnosed with cancer only months after splitting from her husband, but has since found happiness with her role as DS Swain

Coronation Street's Vicky Myers has previously shared her brave battle with cancer, which coincided with a challenging divorce. In the same year as her separation, she was diagnosed and had to pause her acting career.

Financial difficulties escalated, leading her to take on ironing jobs to keep afloat. She took a break from the demanding audition process for two years, choosing to work in an office while looking after her teenage daughter Meghan.

However, Vicky's determination prevailed, and she now not only has a regular role on Corrie but also sees her character DS Lisa Swain at the heart of this week's intense Joel Deering plot. But, the journey to success was not straightforward. DS Swain is her fourth role on the renowned ITV drama, but it's the first that has made her a constant presence.

In an exclusive conversation with the Mirror, Vicky disclosed how she overcame her health struggles and difficult separation, cherishing every moment of her newfound happiness.

"I don't know if it's my previous medical history, but I am so proud to be here and just to be living each day to the full," she remarked at the time. Delving into her personal struggles, she revealed: "When my husband and I split up, I was quite down, bitter and vengeful, and when I was told I had [cancer], I remember thinking, 'If this is it for me, I've missed out on all this time with my daughter and I haven't really been the best person that I wanted to be.'

"The diagnosis re-centred me and made me focus on what is really important and what makes me happy. Now, every time I go into work and see the Coronation Street sign, it's quite overwhelming."

Vicky has been gracing our screens as the formidable DS Swain for the past three years, investigating the acid attack on Daisy Midgeley and Stephen Reid's campaign of terror. Soap bosses have indeed bumped her up to a more permanent fixture, thrusting her into the limelight for apprehending Roy on suspicion of murder amidst the mysterious disappearance of teenager Lauren Bolton.

Her career highs stand in vivid contrast to 2010, a tumultuous year where she became a solo parent. Her life took another turn when, only months later, attending a routine medical appointment with her nephew led to the fortuitous detection of a suspicious mark.

She revealed: "My nephew has a heart condition," and went on to share a life-changing moment. "As we were about to leave, the doctor asked, 'Can I have a look at that mark on your leg? ' Within five days I was in hospital. I had on three-quarter length combat trousers that day. You can roll them up into shorts, which I did in the car just before the appointment, because it was a really hot June day.

"It's quite incredible to think that if it had been a miserable day the doctor would never have seen the little dark mark on my calf. I definitely had an angel watching over me that day."

Following the discovery of skin cancer, her former partner stepped in to care for their daughter Meghan while she underwent reconstructive surgery. After a six-month recovery, she attempted to revive her acting career but, by 2013, the relentless rejection had taken its toll, and she made the difficult decision to abandon her acting ambitions.

She reflected: "I felt financially, mentally and physically I needed a break just to breathe. Being an actress was tough. Sometimes the phone didn't ring, or I wasn't chosen for a role. It was incredibly stressful and I did whatever it took to pay the bills, even ironing for others. You tell yourself it's not your time yet, but that doesn't make things easier when you have children and bills I just couldn't make it work."

Vicky secured a job at a casting house, keenly observing as hopefuls auditioned for roles. Reflecting on her own path, she said: "I knew I was going to return," adding, "Of course, I kept thinking, 'I need to secure a permanent full-time job'. But I didn't. Some might label that as stupidity or arrogance, but I would never have been content full-time in an office job."

Her major break came in 2016 with Harlan Coben's The Five, followed by appearances in Channel 4's Ackley Bridge and The Long Shadow. Despite her success, Vicky always harboured the aspiration to be on Coronation Street.

As a native of Stockport, Greater Manchester, she recounts: "In the North, as soon as you mention you're an actress, people ask, 'Oh, have you been in Coronation Street? ' Now I can proudly say I have. On my first day, I walked down the cobbles and I thought, 'I recognise you.' I've grown up watching the show, so it feels like home."

Raised by pub landlord parents in Stockport, Vicky plunged into various jobs after leaving school, including telesales; by 20, she was already married with a child. Looking back, she stated: "After that I did all sorts of jobs, I was a cleaner, I worked behind a bar, I was a waitress. But when I was holding my daughter, I thought, 'Do I ever want to say to her when she's older, I wish I'd done this...'

"You lead by example, so I decided to make this dream become a reality. I picked up a copy of Yellow Pages and found the number of an acting and modelling agency."

Incredibly, Vicky revealed how she secured her first role in "Corrie," saying: "I was in scenes with Denise Welch and Phil Middlemiss, who played Natalie and Des Barnes. I was playing a nurse and it was the episode where Des died. Watching Denise, learning the jargon and etiquette, was amazing; money can't buy that kind of experience."

Vicky's return to the streets of Weatherfield became more commonshe emerged again in 2007 as a paramedic and then in 2010 took on the role of a driver who comes to Tyrone Dobbs' aid following a car accident. Although landing a fixed role was not immediate, Vicky persistently pursued her passion for acting, often foregoing vacations and evenings out to follow her dream.

Now, as her daughter Meghan, 28, takes up the mantle of teaching, Vicky reflects on her journey towards success. She recounts an amusing episode involving her character Swain receiving some public heat: "When Swain arrested Kelly Neelan for the hate crime storyline, I got shouted at in the street for arresting the wrong person," Vicky recounted with a laugh.

The incident helped her grasp just how monumental "Coronation Street" is and the deep engagement of its audience: "It made me realise the enormity of Coronation Street and how viewers are so heavily invested in this iconic show. It's taken me a while to get here, but it's literally a dream come 'true'."