Claire Sweeney says landing Coronation Street role is a dream come true

Claire Sweeney has fulfilled a life-long "dream" by joining 'Coronation Street'.

The 52-year-old actress cemented herself as a soap icon thanks to her role as Lindsey Corkhill in the now cancelled Channel 4 drama 'Brookside', and now she has been cast as Cassandra Plummer in the ITV show.

Claire can't quite believe she is going to be following in the footsteps of 'Corrie' legends like Pat Phoenix and Julie Goodyear, who played Elsie Tanner and Bet Lynch respectively.

Claire told Total TV Guide magazine: "I always thought, if I was to do another soap, 'Corrie' would be the dream one.

"I've grown up watching it, being obsessed with Pat Phoenix initially, then Bet Lynch."

Claire has promised that her character will "cause some trouble on the cobbles".

She teased: "She's troubled, feisty. And she's going to cause some troubles on the cobbles."

Claire's casting was announced in April, when she likened it to "being cast in a Hollywood movie".

She said at the time: "I’ve watched it all my life and can’t quite believe that I’ll now be stepping onto those famous cobbles myself."

Claire was initially anxious about joining the soap.

Her alter ego Cassandra is the long-lost mother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) and the estranged daughter of Evelyn Plummer, who is played by Dame Maureen Lipman.

Claire is relishing the opportunity to work with Maureen, 77, calling the veteran stage and screen star "one of [her] heroes".

Claire - who appeared on 'Brookside' between 1991 and 2003 - said: "I was really nervous when I got the scripts to audition as this show means so much to me and my family and this is 'Corrie' gold.

"I was beyond thrilled and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod is trusting me to play Tyrone's Mum and work alongside one of my heroes, Dame Maureen Lipman."