Coronation Street star shares real-life impact of evil Nathan role
Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct.
Coronation Street star Chris Harper has opened up about the real-life impact of playing evil character Nathan Curtis.
The character recently returned to the soap after being jailed a few years ago for grooming and raping Bethany Platt.
In a new interview, Chris revealed that he met real-life victims of sexual abuse when he played the role originally, explaining how horrified he was left by them.
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“I have been so affected by the people I have met who have been affected in some way and I’ve been gobsmacked by the horror of what has happened to them," he told The Mirror. "Every time you think this is the worst story you’ve heard, there is another one even worse.
“This isn’t a flash in the pan, it’s not about Nathan, it’s about Bethany and all the Bethanys out there. So often people live in shame because they keep it a secret but having this story has enabled so many people to share their story.
"It’s brilliant Corrie is taking Bethany’s story so seriously because it is so rooted in truth. No matter if a survivor gets justice or not, they live with it throughout their lives.”
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Chris went on to recall being approached by those who had been affected by sexual abuse, and that the storyline had encouraged people he knew to reveal their own traumatic experiences.
“Like Voldemort, Nathan is a force of evil,” he continued. “He is not your normal soap villain where people love to hate him – you just hate him and understandably so. But I’ve never had a single bit of abuse over my role as Nathan.
"When I first played him, I was approached three to four times a day and an awful proportion of those were where sexual abuse had touched them or someone they know.
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“I talk to people now who I might have known for 20 years who are in their 50s or 60s who, thanks to the Corrie storyline, have felt it’s time to tell the story of their uncle or a relative or friend that they trusted when they were younger.
"Having this story has enabled them to share their story and in some cases admit they have been a victim too."
The star added that it has been "very moving", recalling of one particularly emotional encounter: "One woman who really moved me once simply grabbed my arm and said: ‘thank you’. I knew instantly what she meant.”
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
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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