Coronation Street’s latest villain is only just getting started, and if Amy Cudden is to be believed, things are about to get a whole lot darker.
Speaking to Metro at the Corriedale premiere, Amy opened up about stepping into one of the biggest soap events in recent history and playing Becky Swain, a character who has already sent shockwaves through Weatherfield and enraged one of the show’s most passionate fanbases.
For Amy, being asked to take part in the huge crossover episode between Coronation Street and Emmerdale was both thrilling and terrifying in equal measure.
‘Shock and panic, there’s going to be a lot of eyes on it, and then just real excitement,’ she said. ‘I’ve never been part of something quite so massive with so many eyes on it, but it’s just amazing, the best feeling.’
With Corriedale already being talked about as a piece of soap history, the pressure is understandably high, and Amy knows viewers will be watching Becky’s every move.
While Becky’s darker side has only recently started to surface on screen, Amy was quick to jokingly shut down any suggestion that we’ve seen the real her yet.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about!’
But when pushed on just how dangerous Becky could become as the storyline builds towards its next major turning point, Amy didn’t hold back.
‘Yeah, well, I mean she’s a woman on a mission to get what she wants and I think it is a life or death situation for her if she doesn’t get her wife and her daughter back,’ she explained. ‘I don’t see how she will go on, she’s really dangerous and she will do anything and she can dehumanise people around her to do what she needs to do to them, without going into too many details, she’s a wrong’un.’
It’s a chilling description that confirms Becky isn’t just a temporary obstacle; she’s a fully-fledged threat, driven by desperation and obsession. As the crossover episode looms and tensions rise, it’s clear Becky’s actions will have serious consequences.
Unsurprisingly, fan reaction has been intense.
Viewers have been vocal online, with many furious at Becky’s interference, particularly where Swarla are concerned, while at the same time praising Amy’s performance. It’s a balance that many soap villains struggle to strike, but one Amy seems to be navigating with grace.
Asked how it feels to see fans demanding answers and crying out, ‘Who are you? What are you doing to Swarla?!’, Amy revealed just how deep the connection runs.
‘I mean, I have to say, I had heard of Swarla, but I had no idea how passionate and loyal that fanbase was,’ she admitted. ‘But I have to say, those fans are extraordinary, because some of the most hardcore fans have reached out to me personally and sent me letters and care packages and it takes a lot of generosity, if you’re so invested in a couple, to reach out to the person who is destroying that couple, even though it’s acting to say “I really hope you’re okay”, “we hate Becky, but we really like you and we hope you’re looking after yourself’.”
Amy also revealed that some fans are genuinely concerned about the toll playing such a dark character might take.
‘I think they’re worried about my mental health playing someone who quite clearly needs quite a lot of therapy and probably some medication at the same time,’ she added.
Despite the chaos Becky causes, Amy clearly understands why fans are so protective of Swarla, and she even hopes the storyline ultimately strengthens that bond.
‘I mean, it’s really nice, Swarla are the most extraordinary couple, and I hope people see Becky as a virus they’re going to immunise themselves against and get stronger from.’
That striking metaphor became even more pointed when Amy leaned fully into it.
‘Oh yeah, she’s a virus, she’s covid, she keeps mutating and turning into new strains of evil.’
It’s a line that perfectly sums up Becky’s role in the story: constantly evolving, increasingly dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
As Corriedale approaches and Becky’s mission intensifies, one thing is clear: this villain isn’t going quietly. With Amy Cudden embracing Becky’s darkness and fans more emotionally invested than ever, Coronation Street looks set for some explosive weeks ahead, and Becky’s most dangerous strain may still be to come.
