Alexandra Mardell believes she has become a "stronger person" after portraying a grieving daughter when her 'Coronation Street' character lost her father - just three years after the star's own dad died in real-life.
Alexandra Mardell
The 26-year-old actress tragically lost her dad in 2016 when he died of a heart attack aged 54, and despite the similarities with her own life, she was able to "just do the job and go home" because her dad wouldn't have wanted her to "get down again" by revisiting the emotions.
Alexandra - who plays Emma Brooker - said: "It's very strange doing a storyline that happened to you in real life.
"I guess it's made me a stronger person.
"Luckily, because of my friends and family, I had the time to properly grieve so it didn't bring me down when I had to revisit those emotions.
"I could just do the job and go home.
"My dad wouldn't want me to get down again, and it's my job. You play the part and carry on."
When Emma discovered her dad had died she later found out that Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) was her real father - and Alexandra was pleased to be acting out the plot alongside the cobbles veteran because he kept playing funny pranks on her.
She added to OK! magazine: "Simon is so funny on set. The emotional scenes were so hard because he's a prankster.
"He put something under my cushion which went off with a bang when I sat down."
Alexandra recently dedicated the plot to her late dad.
She wrote on Instagram: "This ones for you Dad. So honoured I was given the chance to take on the story of Emma's loss.
"This will always be one of the most meaningful stories to play for me. Something so important that I could truly relate to. @coronationstreet. (sic)"
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