Exclusive interview with Sue Devaney

Rochdale actress, Sue Devaney, is currently touring in 'Calendar Girls The Musical' and recently returned to Coronation Street after a 34 year break, as Kevin Webster's sister, Debbie.

She's well known for her various television roles including Rita Briggs in the 1980s children's TV drama Jonny Briggs, paramedic Liz Harker in Casualty and Jane in the Victoria Wood comedy, Dinnerladies.

Style caught up with Sue to discuss life on tour, stepping back onto the cobbles, and why she's decided to raise awareness of the UK's homelessness epidemic...

Are you enjoying Calendar Girls?

Calendar Girls means so much to me. Every night before I go on stage, I say this is for you mum. My brother had leukaemia and I lost my mum and dad to cancer; and Calendar Girls is the true story of a group of middleaged Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research - they’ve made over £20 million over the years for Bloodwise. So that’s why I’m doing it. It’s rare that you can work with a group of women of similar age, and all have wonderful parts in a show like this. The music is fantastic.

What’s touring like?

Doing the show is easy, the travelling and finding digs is tiring though, I think people think we’re in five star hotels! The biggest thing for me is missing my family. You’re kind of married to the job. But it is great fun and I get to see a lot of places I wouldn’t usually see… like Southend and Wolverhampton!! When I toured with Mamma Mia we went to lots of interesting places though, like Korea, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Have you met Calendar Girl's composer, Gary Barlow?

Oh yes I think Gary’s lovely! Very charming. Very good looking!

Which three things can’t you live without on tour?

My hot water bottle – even in the summer! My steamer for my voice. Oh and my vitamins… my 25 million vitamins.

What are your plans for after the tour?

I’m doing ‘Sit Soft with Sue Devaney’ at Touchstones in Rochdale, 7.30pm on 6th Dec and 2pm/7.30pm on 7th Dec (tickets available from Touchstones or link4life.org). It’s a Q&A with songs and laughs! I’ve nothing in my diary for 2020. Absolutely nothing. It’s really exciting. I always think when you’ve got nothing there’s always hope something will be around the corner.

How did it feel to be back on the cobbles recently?

I loved every minute of it. Having scenes with all me old muckers!

Which scene was your favourite?

I was really nervous about doing the Rovers scenes but I loved them. I thought it was really well written and I loved all the episodes.

Is there a chance we might see more of Debbie Webster in the future?

Oh my gosh, that would be amazing. Who knows, Debbie might come back, it just depends what stories they have in mind.

What are your career highlights?

Working with Victoria Wood. Playing Mari Hoff at Bolton Octagon in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and obviously, doing Rochdale pantos with Colin Meredith.

Who are your role models?

Kathy Burke, Prunella Scales, Lesley Joseph for her comedy. Doris Day because I wanted to be her!

What would be your dream role?

I’ve always wanted to play Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream but I’m getting a bit old for that! My friend Patricia Hayes did a film called ‘Edna, The Inebriate Woman’ which was about a homeless vagrant who was an alcoholic. I’d love to do a remake of that, but in modern times, where homelessness is so prevalent now and so is addiction.

Homelessness seems to be an issue that’s really important to you. While touring, you’ve been talking to homeless people about their lives and posting their stories on your Instagram (@suedevaney13). How do you get people to talk so openly?

Yes I’m planning to end it by talking to homeless people in Rochdale. I just go with an open mind. I sit down and we start chatting; I tell them what I’m doing and my story, as well as asking about theirs. I tell them about my struggles with anxiety and depression and where I am now. And I have to say, 90% of people that I sit down with can’t wait to tell me their story - they can’t wait for someone to chat to. It’s like they’re invisible. These people that are on the streets have a back story – they didn’t start off as addicts or homeless. Any of us could end up homeless. I think we need to put people before money and power. Nobody should be living on the streets or starving in this day and age.

What has kept you in Rochdale instead of moving to London or elsewhere?

It doesn’t matter where I go in the world, I’ll always love nipping into town and just seeing one of my mates from school. My life is quite transient and I meet people for a period of time while I’m on a job. It gives me a sense of belonging coming home to Lancashire, and the roughness of them Pennines! I’ve been all over the world but there’s nowt nicer than lighting your fire, closing your door and peggin' out!

What do you want for Christmas?

More than anything, I want to just ‘be’, and stop chasing my tail. I want to be stable, in a world that is unpredictable at the minute. Or a new dishwasher!

Ruth Parkinson