Coronation Street star Elle Mulvaney on future of Amy's dark story
Note: This story discusses topics including rape and sexual assault.
Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street launches a new story for Amy Barlow tonight (March 3) as the show explores the important issue of sexual consent.
After a group of Weatherfield's teens enjoy a drunken night out together, Amy and her flatmate Aaron Sandford continue the party at home by playing drinking games.
Aaron, who has been rowing with his girlfriend Summer Spellman, shares a kiss with Amy in the living room. They move into the bedroom, where the mood suddenly changes as Amy lies down and reveals that she's feeling unwell.
As Aaron climbs into bed next to Amy and tries to kiss her, she's completely unaware of what he does next.
The following morning, Amy wakes up and is horrified when Aaron tells her that they had sex. Amy reaches the upsetting realisation that she wasn't able to consent and was raped, but Aaron seems to be in denial over his appalling actions as he fiercely disagrees.
Elle Mulvaney, who plays Amy, recently chatted to Digital Spy about the emotional new storyline.
How did you feel when you were told about this storyline?
"I felt like it was definitely going to be a challenge. It's an intense storyline, but that for me is why we do this job. This just shows that soaps, even after more than 60 years, are still just as relevant. This storyline is so topical, and as awful as it sounds, I know so many people who've gone through something like this. It's not uncommon.
"I feel like it's really interesting to delve into this issue and to really talk about consent, so that we can open up these conversations, which is really important. When they told me about the storyline, and I thought about the impact it could have, I felt really honoured and appreciated.
"Being a young cast member in the soap, to be given such a huge responsibility is just incredible."
Can you talk us through what happens?
"Amy carries on drinking after a night out and Aaron comes in and joins her. They'd kissed earlier in the evening, but Amy says that it meant nothing and it can't happen again. Aaron accepts this and they decide to do a drinking game together.
"Later, Amy decides that she would like to get even more alcohol and goes to her bedroom to get it.
"While Amy is trying to find the alcohol in her bedroom, she knocks over a chest of drawers, which creates a loud bang. Aaron hears this and comes to see what's happened. By this point, Amy is hammered and very clearly out of it.
"Aaron then helps her up to the bed and they kiss. He's flirting with her and Amy kisses him back but then decides: 'Actually, I don't feel well'. She thinks that she's going to throw up, so she pushes him away and moves away. Aaron misinterprets this, follows her and carries on."
How does Amy feel the next morning?
"When Amy wakes up, everything is a fog. She's trying to work out what happened the night before, but as she was so drunk and she's combating a hangover on top of everything else, it's really difficult for her to think clearly.
"Amy can see the mess from the night before and is trying to work out what happened. But then she spots her underwear on the floor and looks at the outfit that she's wearing and realises: 'Actually, I think something deeper has gone on here'.
"It's only as Amy progresses through the day, and her memory starts coming back in the form of flashbacks, that she starts to try and piece together the night before."
How does Amy react when Aaron says that they slept together?
"Amy is shocked initially, but then it starts to all make sense. Suddenly, she starts to remember and then feels like she's been taken advantage of. She feels upset – especially as Aaron is her friend."
When Amy tells Aaron that she didn't give consent, is she shocked by how he responds?
"Partly and partly not, because it's obvious that Aaron doesn't think he has done anything wrong – because of the way he's phrased it in a very nonchalant way. Aaron is asking Amy not to tell Summer, but he's making out like this was some drunken mistake – like they've just slept together and now she regrets it.
"The biggest shock comes from Amy's feelings of betrayal, because Aaron was her friend and they've lived together. So for him to not have any recognition for her feelings, I think that's what shocks her the most. It really, really hurts her that Aaron doesn't think he's done anything wrong."
We know that Amy initially doesn't tell anybody what happened. Is that because Aaron is denying it?
"Yes, but it's also the question of: 'How do you even phrase that to somebody?' Amy has so much going through her head at that time, so she can't even begin to think of how to tell other people. Even saying the word rape is so difficult, and in that initial stage, Amy just doesn't have that energy.
"It's also the fact that Aaron is asking her not to tell anybody and he's batting it off as though it's nothing."
Does part of Amy want to confide in her family?
"I think Amy doesn't want to upset her family. She doesn't want to create rifts with anybody. Deep down, she really wants to tell her mum. She really wants her mum to just hug her and tell her that everything's going to be okay.
"But also Amy just doesn't want anybody flying off the handle. She doesn't want everybody finding out. She doesn't want it to be this big issue. She just wishes it never happened."
Coronation Street has worked with The Schools Consent Project on this storyline. Did that help with the preparation?
"Yeah, they were brilliant. One thing that they spoke to us about was the different indicators for consent, such as non-verbal communicators.
"One of the scenarios that they explained involved having a plate of chips and somebody asking for one. If you say yes, then that means: 'Yeah, have them'. But if you can see that somebody's holding back the chips, or they're looking at you like they don't really want to give you them – they're not saying 'no' but they are giving you indicators that they don't want that.
"That's the same thing as consent. If somebody's giving you these non-verbal communicators, such as shaking their head, or not enthusiastically saying yes – or in Amy's case, no responses – all of these are indicators that somebody does not want to consent. At that point, sex should not happen and that's when it should stop.
"It was also really interesting to hear about how they go into schools to help educate people. Corrie doing this storyline also mirrors what they're doing by prevention and raising awareness of the topic.
"If this storyline prevents this from happening to at least one person, then it's done its job. That's essentially what they do by going into schools by giving people this education. It allows people to think twice."
How difficult has it been to film the scenes?
"It has been challenging at times, but I feel like we've been very well supported. Myself and James [Craven, who plays Aaron] have both had numerous people come up to us during the storyline and check in with us to ask how we are.
"Even just working with James has been brilliant, because at every step of the way, he's asked: 'Are you comfortable with this? What do you think about this?' Having someone like that to work with is really nice, especially with such a sensitive topic.
"It can get challenging when you're doing crying scenes all day or you're talking about rape all day. It does take a toll, but Corrie is like a big family.
"Recently I came off set and I thought, 'Oh, I actually feel quite stressed now'. I ended up talking to Sue Devaney [who plays Debbie Webster] for about an hour, and she just made me feel so much better. Having people like that to work with is really comforting."
How do you think this will affect Amy moving forward?
"I think one of the most important things about the story is the long term, because something like this doesn't just happen to somebody and then they forget about it a week later. So it'll be interesting to see how the character goes on over the next few months – years even – and how it's going to affect future relationships.
"Amy has always been very headstrong and very bolshy. So it'll be interesting to see the effect that something like this has on her. Something like this happening to her by a friend will completely destroy her trust. So it'll be interesting to see how she can rebuild herself over time."
Could this affect the teens' friendship group?
"I think the dynamic will definitely change, because you'll find that people will have to almost pick sides. With Amy being how she is, you can't be friends with them both. That's going to be really difficult, because what happens when they all want to go out or they all want to go on holiday together?
"Amy isn't going to want to be in the same room as Aaron. She feels like he's a threat to her now. So I feel like that will definitely have an impact on the wider group, because now they're stuck in the middle."
Could there come a point where Summer has to decide who to believe?
"I think that will probably be one of the most interesting things, because from Summer's perspective, Amy has slept with her boyfriend. So she's going to be destroyed. She doesn't know who to hate more.
"It'll be interesting to see Summer's stance on everything. Because what do you choose: do you choose your best friend who you've been friends with for years, or the boy that you love?"
Does Amy want Aaron to be convicted?
"I think Amy wants a sense of justice. Aaron admitting it is the main thing that she wants, but then if he gets a criminal charge as well, then that would mean that it's been proven and he's guilty.
"Most importantly, Amy wants Aaron to know what he's done is wrong, because in her head, the worries are: 'Is he going to do this to somebody else? Has he already done this to Summer?' There's lots of things going through her head."
Can you talk about the reactions we can expect from Steve and Tracy when they find out?
"Steve and Tracy love Amy – she's their world. So they are going to be heartbroken when they find out. That will manifest in different ways between them both, because they don't know what to do and it's out of their hands.
"All they'll do is try to get justice for Amy. It's a question of trying to support her in the best way – and whether Amy agrees or not whether their way is the best way. The Barlows do what the Barlows do! Sometimes they go off the rails when Amy doesn't want them to."
What kind of impact would you like the story to have?
"I hope that it allows this issue to be less of a grey area. If somebody can come away and have a think, the next time that they're going to do something: 'Has this person given me verbal or non-verbal indicators that they would like to have sex? Have they shown me enthusiastically that they want to be involved in this or have they not?'
"I hope that it can open up conversations. I've spoken to so many people at Corrie who've said: 'Oh, yeah, when I heard about the storyline, I've had conversations with my boys'. Or: 'I've had conversations with my girls'.
"That for me is a huge impact of the story. It's just about education and informing people."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Coronation Street has been working with the Schools Consent Project on Amy's storyline.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
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